BOSTON (AP) — A coalition of lawyers and educators announced Monday it has filed a federal civil rights complaint against the Boston public schools over a school closure plan it says discriminates against black and Latino students.
The complaint to the U.S. Department of Education's
Office of Civil Rights, filed by the Boston Bar Association's lawyers'
committee for civil rights under law and the Black Educators' Alliance of
Massachusetts, alleges that the district's new "redesign and reinvest
plan" disproportionately affects black and Latino students
That's because the groups say the plan proposes to
close several schools in largely minority neighborhoods in Boston.
"BEAM has consistently raised serious
questions of equity and fairness during each school closing process," said
Nora Toney, president of the Black Educators' Alliance of Massachusetts.
"We understand there must be critical decisions made to address the budget
and underperformance of schools, but those decisions must be made using a process
that is fair and equitable so that all students benefit."
But Boston Superintendent Carol Johnson said the
schools slated for closure were selected because they are among the lowest
chosen by families and have been struggling academically.
"We would be doing a great disservice to
continue to serve young people in these schools when we have better options
available," Johnson said in a statement. "Frankly, it would be more
appropriate for us to be questioned of wrongdoing had we chosen to maintain the
status quo."
Johnson said the district looked forward to any
inquiry about the closures.
Copyright
2011 The Associated Press.
