The Wake County school system is now facing the threat of another federal civil rights complaint.

In this letter sent today to Wake County Superintendent Tony Tata, the Southern Poverty Law Center and Advocates for Children’s Services charge that the school system is violating the civil rights of students with Spanish-speaking parents by only sending them important notices in English. The letter cites examples of three limited English proficient parents not getting information in Spanish about their children’s long-term suspension notices and special-education services.

The groups contend that failure to provide the parents of these Hispanic students the information in their primary language violates Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act. The groups charge that Wake “has a clear legal duty” to provide documents on suspensions and special education in Spanish to Spanish-speaking parents.

SEE UPDATE AT END OF POST FOR WAKE'S RESPONSE

From correspondent Virginia Bridges

Durham Public Schools and the U.S. Department of Education have reached an agreement to address a complaint alleging discriminatory practices and hostile school environments for Latino students and their families.

The agreement outlines next steps for the school district, including strengthening its anti-discrimination policy, translating report cards, and improving communication with parents who are not native English speakers.

The agreement makes DPS a better district for all students, Superintendent Eric Becoats said in a written statement. “We will continue to work side-by-side with students and families representing all cultures,” he said.

The Southern Poverty Law Center filed a federal complaint in May contending harassment, inadequate communication and translation services, and other issues affecting at least 6,080 students and their families who speak a language other than English in their homes.

The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights will monitor the district until it determines DPS is complying with federal law prohibiting programs that receive federal assistance from discriminating on the bases of race, color or national origin.

Look for more on this story coming Sunday in The Durham News.

From correspondent Virginia Bridges

The Southern Poverty Law Center has threatened to file a federal complaint if the Durham Public Schools doesn’t immediately curb alleged discrimination against Latino students and their families.

Attorney Jerri Katzerman, director of educational advocacy for the Montgomery, Ala., based nonprofit civil rights organization, said the organization has spoken with hundreds of Hispanic families in Durham since last year.

“These children and parents report that they have limited access to languages interpreters, are unable to read and understand important school documents, and, most alarmingly, that students often experience a hostile environment where they are made to feel unwelcome and unwanted in their neighborhood schools,” Katzerman said in a Tuesday letter.

A DPS statement, provided by spokeswoman Tahira Stalberte, said the school system has referred the complaint to its attorneys and is investigating the claims. Efforts to rreach school board chairwoman Minnie Forte-Brown were unsuccessful.

“We are committed to providing appropriate services to all students in DPS and to complying with the requirements of federal law in serving students of all nationalities,” the school statement said.

The letter, which asks the school system to respond within 10 businesses days, indicates that if an agreement can’t be reached the law center will file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. 

Look for more on this story coming Sunday in The Durham News.   
 

Socialists, Communists and anarchists aren't the only ones who are closely following the Wake County school diversity fight.

The white nationalists have also been monitoring the student assignment fight. American Renaissance, called a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, regularly carries excerpts of news stories about the ongoing situation in Wake.

In the latest example, American Renaissance carried the N&O story about AdvancED's accreditation review of the Wake school system. Most of the reader comments about the review and African Americans were harsh, to put it mildly.