TITLE VI COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST WAKE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD

Raleigh, NC--On Friday, September 24, several public interest organizations and a local high school student filed a federal civil rights complaint against the Wake County Public School System and the Wake County Board of Education.  The complaint, filed with the U.S. Department of Education under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, alleges that the Board engaged in intentional discrimination on the basis of race when it made certain student reassignments on April 6, 2010.  The complaint also alleges that these reassignments had a disparate negative impact on students because of their race, color and national origin. Finally, the complaint alleges that the disciplinary policies and practices employed by the school system have a disproportionate and discriminatory impact on students on the basis of race.

The Wake County School Board has faced constant criticism over the past several months for voting to abandon completely the use of socio-economic status as a means to achieve quality educational opportunities for minority students.

The complaint was filed on behalf of the national NAACP, the North Carolina State Conference of Branches of the NAACP, three local NAACP branches, NC H.E.A.T. (Heroes Emerging Amongst Teens), and Quinton White, an 18-year-old student at Southeast Raleigh High School.  The complaint asks the Department of Education to investigate the allegations and to order the Board to cease its discriminatory practices.

Blue Stephens & Fellers LLP serves as co-counsel to the complainants, along with the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, UNC Center for Civil Rights, North Carolina Justice Center, and North Carolina State Conference of Branches of the NAACP.