Dive Summary:
- U.S. District Judge John Lee began a hearing Tuesday on two lawsuits seeking to block plans to close 49 of the city's public elementary schools.
- One of the two lawsuits is looking for a permanent injunction to block the closings, while the other merely wants a one-year delay, and testimony from Chicago Public Schools officials and parents opposed to the closings is expected to last as many as four days.
- The two federal lawsuits were filed in May by the Chicago teachers Union on behalf of parents at affected schools, and the plaintiffs argue that the closings disproportionately affect African-American neighborhoods, that disabled and special needs students weren't given time to adjust and that the closings endanger kids crossing gang boundaries to get to new schools.
From the article:
... In many cases, schools were students are relocated are only marginally better – if at all – than the schools that were closed.
An attorney for the Chicago Board of Education asked if Lipman knew about plans to improve education at the so-called “welcoming schools.” Lipman said she was aware of what CPS has promised, but hasn’t seen those programs in place. ...
