Dive Brief:

• Civil rights advocacy group The Advancement Project filed three complaints alleging minority groups are unfairly targeted for school closures and subsequent privatization.  
• The complaints, filed with the U.S. Department of Education's civil rights office and the U.S. Department of Justice, focus specifically on reform efforts occurring in  Chicago, New Orleans, and Newark.  
• The group argues that the rampant closing of traditional public schools violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act since this sort of reform effort disproportionately affects minority communities.

Dive Insight:

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act aims to stop discrimination by government agencies that receive federal funds. The Advancement Project feels that black and Hispanic communities are being targeted where their schools are closing and being replaced by charter schools. Since charter boards are appointed rather than elected, the complaint is more or less saying that minority communities are purposely being picked off and silenced, as appointed boards are seen as being less accountable for how federal funds are being used.