Case Name: SAVE OUR SCHOOLS/ SOUTHESAST AND NORTHEAST, et al. v. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BOARD OF EDUCATION INDIVDUAL MEMBERS, et al

Plaintiffs: Eight individuals who are the parents and guardians of students in traditional D.C. public schools

Institutional Plaintiffs: Save Our Schools Southeast and Northeast

Summary:  IRAdvocates filed suit in 2004 on behalf of Save Our Schools SE/NE, a community-based non-profit association, and eight individuals who are the parents and guardians of students in D.C. public schools.  This case is designed to challenge an entity, the District of Columbia Board of Education, which traditionally enjoys impunity for violating the right to education of the children residing in Washington, DC.

The plaintiffs allege that District of Columbia Board of Education diverted public resources, facilities, and services away from their public schools to Two Rivers Public Charter School, formed and operated with the discriminatory purpose that the school not be “too Black”.  As a result of this diversion of funds, the school’s attended by the plaintiff’s children have suffered significant programming cuts including, for example, cuts in music, art and technical instruction.  Meanwhile, students at Two Rivers enjoy all these amenities as well as language courses and full-time teacher assistants.  The plaintiffs allege that these disparities are systemic and pervasive such that they have impacted the traditional DC public school system at large.  The defendant’s motion to dismiss was denied on July 3, 2006, and the case is in discovery through November 20, 2007.