The U.S. Dept. of Education announced Wednesday that it was investigating discrimination complaints filed against the Newark, New Jersey school system that say the city’s plan to reorganize its public schools is disproportionately affecting black students.
The “One Newark” plan that’s being investigated was announced
at the end of last year by Superintendent Cami Anderson. The plan calls for relocation and consolidation of one-quarter of all city schools, allowing charter schools to operate in three city-owned facilities, with plans to close the worst performing schools.A complaint filed in May
with the Department of Education and Justice by Newark parents and a branch of Parents Unified for Local School Education (PULSE) said that 51% of Newark students were black, yet black students made up 86% of those affected by “One Newark.” The complaint further elaborates, saying that white students make up 8% of the city’s school system, but less than 1% of them are affected by the district’s changes.Reports of this investigation comes just one day after the U.S. Department of Justice said that Newark police had repeatedly violated civil rights laws, and recommended the appointment of an independent monitor.
With Census reports showing that African Americans make up more than half of Newark’s population, we hope these federal investigations will put an end to all of the nonsense that’s happening in the city.
SOURCE: Reuters