Local School Councils File Lawsuit Against CPS

CTU, Parents, LSC Members to file civil rights lawsuit to stop CPS from closings, turning around neighborhood schools.
Officers of the Chicago Teachers Union; Local School Council officials and parents from schools targeted by the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) for closing, turnaround or phase-out, attorneys, clergy, community leaders and others
Will conduct a news conference to announce the filing of a significant lawsuit seeking injunctive relief to stop the Board's Feb. 22nd approval and implementation of CPS' plan to close or "turn around" various neighborhood schools. The suit alleges CPS has violated Illinois School Code; and has violated the civil rights of the plaintiffs under the Illinois Civil Rights Action of 2003 because the proposed actions disproportionately target African American student populations.
CPS CEO Jean Claude Brizard and the Board have failed to work with LSC members, parents and other community stakeholders to improve the performance of schools and have also refused to provide adequate funding to help strengthen those campuses. For several weeks, hundreds of parents, teachers, students and community leaders have pleaded with CPS and the Board to give them the resources needed to save their schools from closure or the District's drastic turnaround model.