The United States Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) has given notice it will open an investigation into allegations that the Richmond Public Schools’ disciplinary policies and practices unlawfully discriminate against African American students and students with disabilities.

On April 13, ACLU-VA Executive Director Claire Guthrie Gastañaga sent a letter to Gov. Terry McAuliffe asking him to veto companion bills HB1856 and SB1285, which would require courts to put people ordered to pay restitution on indefinite probation and codify wealth-based discrimination in Virginia