The U.S. Department of Education has launched a civil rights investigation into allegations the Wake County Public School System in Raleigh N.C. might be discriminating against Latinos, says WRAL.com.
Last month, the Legal Aid of North Carolina and the Southern Poverty Law Center filed a complaint against the school district claiming three students were sent home with long-term suspension notes in English even though their parents could not read the letters, which violates federal law. The complaint is asking the U.S. Department of Education to require a system to provide documents sent home to students and special education services to be in Spanish for parents who have limited proficiency in English.
“We hope this investigation results in the Wake County Public School System adopting new policies and practices that better enable all parents to play a more meaningful role in their children’s education,” said Peggy Nicholson, an attorney representing the students in the complaint to WRAL.com.
Latinos make up about 15 percent of the district’s population, and approximately half of those students have limited English-language skills.
Wake County School district said last month they are reviewing its practices and will cooperate with the Office of Civil Rights to resolve the complaint. The district has been under fire recently for its controversial student assignment policy which some claim is unfair to low-income students and last month the district settled a Title IX complaint.
