Philadelphia City Council Supports 1-Year Moratorium On School Closings Prior To Journey For Justice Hearing With Duncan & Dept. Of Ed To Call For End To Discriminatory School Actions

WHAT:

In the wake of publicity about the upcoming community hearing before Arne Duncan (in attendance for early portion of hearing) and the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, January 29^th, 2013, voices across the country are taking notice of the growing national movement and accelerating debates and actions to address the devastating impact and civil rights violations resulting from the unchecked closings and turnarounds of schools serving predominantly low-income students of color.

On Thursday, January 24^th, 2013, the Philadelphia City Council voted 14-2 in favor of a nonbinding resolution put forward by the Philadelphia Coalition Advocating for Public Schools (PCAPS), calling for a one-year moratorium on school closings. Debate also heated up in New York City as representatives took the issue to the state capitol and an announcement was made this week that the Dept. of Education Office of Civil Rights has launched a probe into the Title VI Civil Rights complaint in Detroit.

Cities who have filed Title VI Civil Rights complaints with the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights citing the closing of schools and the criteria and methods for administering those actions as discriminatory toward low-income, minority communities include: Chicago, New York, Detroit, Newark, Washington D.C., Philadelphia and Ambler, Pa. Additional cities preparing to file complaints include: Oakland, Calif.; Los Angeles; New Orleans and Boston.

Students, parents and advocacy representatives from 18 major United States cities impacted by neglectful school actions will testify at the hearing and demand the Department of Education place a moratorium on school closings until a new process can be implemented nationally, implement a sustainable, community-driven school improvement process as national policy, and provide a meeting with President Obama so that he may hear directly from his constituents about the devastating impact and civil rights violations.

WHO:        

Approximately 500 students, parents and community representatives representing 18 cities across the country will attend the hearing including: Ambler, Pa.; Atlanta; Baltimore; Boston; Chicago; Cleveland; Detroit; District of Columbia; Eupora, Miss.; Hartford, Conn.; Kansas City, Mo.; Los Angeles; Newark; New Orleans; New York; Oakland, Calif.; Philadelphia; and Wichita, Kan.

WHEN/

Community Hearing & Rally

Candlelight Vigil

WHERE:     

Tuesday, January 29^th, 2013

Tuesday, January 29^th, 2013

2:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. EST

5:00 p.m. EST

U.S. Department of Education

Martin Luther King Memorial

400 Maryland Ave. SW

1964 Independence Ave. SW

Washington DC 20202

Washington, DC 20024

WHY:      

As the national hearing approaches, cities across the country are stepping up actions to address the negative impact of school closings on low-income students of color.