A Fontana preschool that implemented an English-only policy for its employees has agreed to a $200,000 settlement with California after a teacher’s aide claimed management retaliated against her for speaking Spanish. The money could be distributed among current and former employees affected by the policy.

The problem started with a pen, California Department of Civil Rights announced in a press release on Thursday. The state watchdog investigates allegations of abuse by employers and has filed lawsuits against Teslavideo game Activision Giant BlizzardMicrosoft and the Ralphs supermarket chain.

In 2023, the state agency began its investigation into Leaps and Bounds, a private preschool and elementary school with locations in Escondido, La Puente and Fontana.

A school employee claimed that her work hours were drastically reduced and that she felt discriminated against because of her cultural background. After someone overheard an employee speaking Spanish (they were asking a coworker for a pen), the school implemented an English-only policy at work, the Department of Civil Rights said. The person claimed that employees were gossiping in Spanish, so management responded by requiring employees to sign an agreement preventing them from speaking Spanish at work unless they needed to communicate with a parent who did not speak English, according to the agreement. .

“Educators deserve to feel celebrated for their heritage, but instead, Leaps and Bounds’ alleged language ban fostered a hostile work culture that left staff feeling undervalued and unwelcome,” said Kevin Kish, director of the Department of Civil Rights. of California, in a statement.

California civil rights laws prohibit employers from discriminating against employees based on national origin, race or ethnicity, according to the Department of Civil Rights.

The employee who filed the complaint was able to enter into mediation with the state agency and his employer. Leaps and Bounds agreed to end its English-only policy and train its staff on California civil rights laws.

Leaps and Bounds did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for the California Department of Civil Rights could not be reached for additional information about the case. The settlement will fund $35,000 in compensation for the employee who filed the complaint and will cover costs incurred in notifying current and former employees who may be entitled to money.