A lawsuit filed in New York City is challenging the public school system, with plaintiffs alleging it widened racial inequality through its admissions system.
The suit was filed on Tuesday by attorneys for IntegrateNYC, a left-wing youth-led organization that “stands for equity and justice in our schools,” according to NY Youth Civics Initiative, a group dedicated to connecting young activists for social causes.
“We believe NYC public schools currently isolate many students of color, rely on racist and classist admissions policies, and have perpetuated school segregation and white supremacy due to a complex, inefficient and hyper-competitive high school admissions process,” a statement from IntegrateNYC’s website said.
The case, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, alleges students of color are denied “meaningful access to social and economic mobility by an elementary and middle school pipeline.”
MEGYN KELLY ENCOURAGES PARENTS TO ‘FIGHT BACK’ AGAINST NYC SCHOOL’S ‘ANTI-RACISM’ CURRICULUM
New York City public schools groups students as early as 4 years old for selective courses and is reliant on criteria such as test scores when sorting children in classes. The lawsuit alleges that affluent families are rewarded with the “ability to navigate a rigged system in which individuals with superior access to test preparation, information, and other resources are almost invariably the most successful.”
It also cited statistics showing a disproportionate number of students of color suspended compared to white students and claimed there weren’t enough teachers of color proportionate to minority student demographics.
“This is the first case in the nation to seek a constitutional right to an anti-racist education,” Mark Rosenbaum, one of the lawyers involved in the case, said, according to the New York Times.
Danielle Filson, a spokeswoman for the Department of Education, put up a defense of the school system’s efforts toward desegregation.
“This administration has taken bold, unprecedented steps to advance equity in our admissions policies,” Filson said. “Our persistent work to drive equity for New York City families is ongoing, and we will review the suit.”
If the plaintiffs’ case is heard by a judge and succeeds, New York City schools could be forced to reformat or remove admissions policies for hundreds of selective institutions, including gifted and talented programs and academically selective middle and high schools.
IntergrateNYC’s lawsuit names the state, the city, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio, and Commissioner of Education Betty Rosa as some of the defendants.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
A representative with IntegrateNYC sent the Washington Examiner student testimonies alleging the standardized testing system in New York City Public Schools uphold prejudice against students of color.
“These standardized tests were made in the name of creating a racial hierarchy that maintains white supremacy,” said Jesus, a high school senior in the district.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the NYC Department of Education and Rosenbaum but did not immediately receive a response.
