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    <title>Dismal Freedom Press — Press Releases</title>
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    <description>Official press releases, investigation announcements, and media advisories from Dismal Freedom Press — independent investigative journalism for California's Central Valley.</description>
    <language>en-us</language>
    <copyright>Copyright 2026 Dismal Freedom Press</copyright>
    <managingEditor>press@dismalfreedompress.org (Dismal Freedom Press)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>press@dismalfreedompress.org (Dismal Freedom Press)</webMaster>
    <pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
    <lastBuildDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0700</lastBuildDate>
    <category>Investigative Journalism</category>
    <category>Education</category>
    <category>Civil Rights</category>
    <category>Central Valley California</category>
    <ttl>60</ttl>
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      <title>Dismal Freedom Press</title>
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      <title>DFP Files Urgent Supplemental Brief with California Department of Education in Western Placer Unified Investigation</title>
      <link>https://dismalfreedom.press/press-releases.html#wpusd-cde-filing-march-2026</link>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
      <author>press@dismalfreedompress.org (Dismal Freedom Press)</author>
      <category>Press Release</category>
      <category>Education</category>
      <category>Western Placer Unified School District</category>
      <category>Placer County</category>
      <description><![CDATA[
        <p><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong><br>
        March 19, 2026<br>
        Contact: <a href="mailto:press@dismalfreedompress.org">press@dismalfreedompress.org</a></p>

        <p>Dismal Freedom Press has filed an Urgent Consolidated Supplemental Filing with the California Department of Education (CDE) documenting additional evidence of procedural violations, missing records, and administrative misconduct in the Western Placer Unified School District (WPUSD) case.</p>

        <p>The filing follows the WPUSD Board of Trustees' 4-0 vote to reject a formal appeal and the district's failure to meet legally mandated public records deadlines. Board Vice President Proffitt's email coordinating a Club America event was omitted from the administrative record submitted to the CDE.</p>

        <p>Full reporting: <a href="https://dismalfreedompress.substack.com/p/were-taking-the-wpusd-investigation">dismalfreedompress.substack.com</a></p>

        <p>Credentialed journalists may request DFP's full document package by contacting <a href="mailto:press@dismalfreedompress.org">press@dismalfreedompress.org</a>.</p>

        <p>###</p>
      ]]></description>
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      <title>DFP Investigation: English Learners Score 144 Points Below Standard in Western Placer Unified</title>
      <link>https://dismalfreedompress.substack.com/p/144-points-below-standard-the-hidden</link>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 03 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
      <author>press@dismalfreedompress.org (Dismal Freedom Press)</author>
      <category>Press Release</category>
      <category>Education</category>
      <category>Civil Rights</category>
      <category>Western Placer Unified School District</category>
      <description><![CDATA[
        <p><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong><br>
        February 3, 2026<br>
        Contact: <a href="mailto:press@dismalfreedompress.org">press@dismalfreedompress.org</a></p>

        <p>A Dismal Freedom Press investigation reveals that Long-Term English Learners (LTELs) in the Western Placer Unified School District score 144.1 points below the district standard in mathematics — a significant achievement gap that district leadership has failed to address.</p>

        <p>The investigation also documents a civil rights complaint filed with the district and a school administrator's documented response that included a "laughing face" emoji directed at the complainant. DFP uncovered evidence of administrative suppression of complaint documentation.</p>

        <p>DFP is making its full document file available to credentialed journalists covering education, civil rights, and school accountability.</p>

        <p>Full investigation: <a href="https://dismalfreedompress.substack.com/p/144-points-below-standard-the-hidden">dismalfreedompress.substack.com</a></p>

        <p>###</p>
      ]]></description>
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    <item>
      <title>ADVISORY: Manteca Unified Produces Public Records Following DFP CPRA Filing — Brown Act Inquiry Ongoing</title>
      <link>https://dismalfreedompress.substack.com/p/musd-produced-records-after-we-put</link>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
      <author>press@dismalfreedompress.org (Dismal Freedom Press)</author>
      <category>Media Advisory</category>
      <category>Education</category>
      <category>CPRA</category>
      <category>Manteca Unified School District</category>
      <category>San Joaquin County</category>
      <description><![CDATA[
        <p><strong>MEDIA ADVISORY</strong><br>
        March 3, 2026<br>
        Contact: <a href="mailto:press@dismalfreedompress.org">press@dismalfreedompress.org</a></p>

        <p>Manteca Unified School District (MUSD) has produced a set of requested public records following a California Public Records Act (CPRA) filing by Dismal Freedom Press. DFP's inquiry into potential Brown Act violations at MUSD board sessions remains active.</p>

        <p>Reporters covering Central Valley education are encouraged to request DFP's document package for background on the MUSD investigation. Contact <a href="mailto:press@dismalfreedompress.org">press@dismalfreedompress.org</a> with your outlet and beat.</p>

        <p>###</p>
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