Case: State of California v. U.S. Department of Education

3:26-cv-01259 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Filed Date: Feb. 11, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

[This summary is temporary while we research this case.] On February 11, 2026, the State of California filed suit against the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Secretary of Education, and the United States in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Plaintiffs allege that Defendants unlawfully seek to expand the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) by decree. FERPA, created over 50 years ago, introduced two separate duties for state educ…

[This summary is temporary while we research this case.]

On February 11, 2026, the State of California filed suit against the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Secretary of Education, and the United States in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Plaintiffs allege that Defendants unlawfully seek to expand the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) by decree. FERPA, created over 50 years ago, introduced two separate duties for state educational agencies: first, educational agencies were required, upon a parents’ request, to disclose a student’s “education records” as defined by the statute; second, educational agencies could not disclose those same records to third parties without prior parental consent. 20 U.S.C. §§ 1232g(a)(1)(A), (b)(1). This recent expansion reads an affirmative duty to disclose student records to parents where none exists and demanding that Plaintiff accede to this interpretation as a new condition of receiving federal education funding. 

This case is ongoing.

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72264974/parties/state-of-california-v-us-department-of-education/


Judge(s)

Orrick, William Horsley (California)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Bruck, Katherine (California)

Bunshoft, Jennifer A. (California)

Faer, Laura L. (California)

Nugent, Edward W. (California)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
6

3:26-cv-01259

Order Granting Motion for Temporary Restraining Order

Feb. 11, 2026

Feb. 11, 2026

Order/Opinion

2026 WL 388719

1

3:26-cv-01259

Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

Feb. 11, 2026

Feb. 11, 2026

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72264974/state-of-california-v-us-department-of-education/

Last updated Feb. 18, 2026, 12:06 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against McMahon, Linda, Frank E. Miller, U.S. Department of Education, United States of Amercia ( Filing fee $ 405, receipt number ACANDC-21644043.). Injunction against the US government/official or APA vacatur requested. Filed by State of California. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(Nugent, Edward) (Filed on 2/11/2026) (Entered: 02/11/2026)

1 Exhibit

View on PACER

Feb. 11, 2026

Feb. 11, 2026

Clearinghouse
2

Proposed Summons. (Nugent, Edward) (Filed on 2/11/2026) (Entered: 02/11/2026)

Feb. 11, 2026

Feb. 11, 2026

3

NOTICE of Appearance filed by Anthony Pinggera on behalf of State of California (Pinggera, Anthony) (Filed on 2/11/2026) (Entered: 02/11/2026)

Feb. 11, 2026

Feb. 11, 2026

5

Case assigned to Judge William H. Orrick. Counsel for plaintiff or the removing party is responsible for serving the Complaint or Notice of Removal, Summons and the assigned judge's standing orders and all other new case documents upon the opposing parties. For information, visit E-Filing A New Civil Case at http://cand.uscourts.gov/ecf/caseopening.Standing orders can be downloaded from the court's web page at www.cand.uscourts.gov/judges. Upon receipt, the summons will be issued and returned electronically. A scheduling order will be sent by Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) within two business days. (mbc, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 2/11/2026) (Entered: 02/11/2026)

Feb. 11, 2026

Feb. 11, 2026

6

ORDER GRANTING 4 Ex Parte MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order filed by State of California. Signed by Judge Noel Wise on 2/11/2026. (nwlc3, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 2/11/2026) (Entered: 02/11/2026)

Feb. 11, 2026

Feb. 11, 2026

Clearinghouse
8

Initial Case Management Scheduling Order with ADR Deadlines: Case Management Statement due by 5/5/2026. Initial Case Management Conference set for 5/12/2026 02:00 PM in San Francisco, - Videoconference Only. (mbc, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 2/11/2026) (Entered: 02/12/2026)

Feb. 11, 2026

Feb. 11, 2026

Notice of Appearance/Substitution/Change/Withdrawal of Attorney

Feb. 11, 2026

Feb. 11, 2026

~Util - Case Assigned by Intake

Feb. 11, 2026

Feb. 11, 2026

7

CLERKS NOTICE SETTING TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER 6 HEARING.Temporary Restraining Order 6 Hearing set for February 18, 2026 at 11:00 AM. This proceeding will be held via a Zoom Meeting.WMeeting Access: All counsel may access the meeting information at https://www.cand.uscourts.gov/judges/wise-noel-nw/Court Appearances: Advanced notice is required of counsel or parties who wish to be identified by the court as making an appearance or will be participating in the argument at the hearing. A list of names and emails must be sent to the CRD at nwcrd@cand.uscourts.gov no later than February 17, 2026 at 5:00Pm.Civ LR 77-3(d). Persons granted access to court proceedings held by telephone or videoconference are reminded that photographing, recording, and rebroadcasting of court proceedings, including screenshots or other visual copying of a hearing, is absolutely prohibited.Zoom Guidance and Setup: https://www.cand.uscourts.gov/zoom/. Temporary Restraining Order Hearing set for 2/18/2026 11:00 AM. (This is a text-only entry generated by the court. There is no document associated with this entry.) (akw, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 2/12/2026) (Entered: 02/12/2026)

Feb. 12, 2026

Feb. 12, 2026

9

Summons Issued as to Linda McMahon, Frank E. Miller, Jr, U.S. Department of Education, United States of Amercia, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (mbc, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 2/12/2026) (Entered: 02/12/2026)

Feb. 12, 2026

Feb. 12, 2026

10

NOTICE of Appearance filed by Laura L. Faer on behalf of State of California (Faer, Laura) (Filed on 2/12/2026) (Entered: 02/12/2026)

Feb. 12, 2026

Feb. 12, 2026

Clerk's Notice Setting Zoom Hearing

Feb. 12, 2026

Feb. 12, 2026

Set/Reset Hearings

Feb. 12, 2026

Feb. 12, 2026

Notice of Appearance/Substitution/Change/Withdrawal of Attorney

Feb. 12, 2026

Feb. 12, 2026

Set Hearing - Motion Hearing set for 2/27/2026 10:00 AM via videoconference before Judge William H. Orrick. (jmd, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 2/12/2026)

Feb. 12, 2026

Feb. 12, 2026

11

NOTICE of Appearance filed by Darrell Warren Spence on behalf of State of California (Spence, Darrell) (Filed on 2/13/2026) (Entered: 02/13/2026)

Feb. 13, 2026

Feb. 13, 2026

12

NOTICE of Appearance filed by Katherine Bruck on behalf of State of California (Bruck, Katherine) (Filed on 2/13/2026) (Entered: 02/13/2026)

Feb. 13, 2026

Feb. 13, 2026

Notice of Appearance/Substitution/Change/Withdrawal of Attorney

Feb. 13, 2026

Feb. 13, 2026

13

Stipulation

1 Proposed Order

View on PACER

Feb. 17, 2026

Feb. 17, 2026

14

Order on Stipulation

Feb. 17, 2026

Feb. 17, 2026

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory:

California

Case Type(s):

Education

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Feb. 11, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

Northern District of California 3:26-cv-01259

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket