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 to former and current employees affected by the policy.

The problem started with a pen, the California Department of Civil Rights announced in a press release Thursday. The state watchdog investigates allegations of abuse by employers and has filed lawsuits against Teslavideo game giant Activision 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 hours were drastically cut and that she felt discriminated against based on her cultural background. After someone overheard an employee speaking Spanish — asking a co-worker for a pen — the school implemented an English-only workplace policy, the Department of Civil Rights said. The person alleged 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 non-English-speaking parent, according to the agreement. regulation.

“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 unappreciated and unwelcome,” said Department Director Kevin Kish for California Civil Rights, in a statement.

California civil rights laws prohibit employers from discriminating against employees based on their 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 their 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 spokesman for the California Department of Civil Rights could not be reached for additional information about the case. The settlement will fund a $35,000 award to the employee who filed the complaint and cover costs incurred in notifying current and former employees who may be entitled to money.