Dive Brief:
- The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against the Lancaster School District in Pennsylvania, arguing it steered at least 30 students into an alternative high school over a three-year period instead of allowing them to enroll in the traditional high school.
- The Associated Press reports the plaintiffs in the case are refugees between the ages of 17 and 21 who didn't get as many transition services in the alternative school, faced larger class sizes, and had no access to advanced courses.
- Georgetown’s Human Rights Institute released a report in April that showed school districts have discouraged older immigrants from starting high school if they won’t graduate by the time they age out of access to services, but in this case, Lancaster officials say the lawsuit is without merit.
Dive Insight:
Schools have faced an influx of refugees coming from war-torn countries around the globe, including Central American children fleeing gang violence as well as young people from Myanmar and Sudan. While some communities have been particularly welcoming, others have resisted the extra burden these refugees place on school resources. English language learners require a range of services, and communicating with their families is another challenge many districts are not prepared to face.
Failing to provide information to families who do not speak English to the same level that information is provided to English-speaking families is considered discrimination based on national origin and is in violation of the Civil Rights Act. Schools across the country have been forced to develop resolution agreements with the Office of Civil Rights to improve their practices and adequately serve this population.