Equal treatment of Richmond public school students, Administrative Complaint against Richmond Public Schools Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

On August 24, 2016 along with the Legal Aid Justice Center, the ACLU of Virginia filed a Complaint with the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (“OCR”) on behalf of the Richmond branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People against the City of Richmond Public Schools (“RPS”). Those students and students similarly situated have been subjected to discriminatory policies and practices while attending schools within RPS. RPS’s discipline policies and practices have an adverse disparate impact on African American students in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; students with disabilities in violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The Complaint also asks OCR to investigate RPS’s discipline policies and practices and to require the division to adopt adequate remedies.

On April 12, 2017, OCR opened its investigation into this Complaint.
 

Attorney(s)

Charlie Schmidt, ACLU of Virginia; Rachael Deane, Lisa Bennett, Angela Ciolfi, Just Children Program, Legal Aid Justice Center

Date filed

August 24, 2016

Court

Administrative Complaint, U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights

Status

Active