Desegregation Hearing Continues

Desegregation Hearing Continues

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Today is the second day of a federal court hearing to determine whether a desegregation order should be lifted from the Chicago Public Schools.

Related: Kids Testify to Subpar Education in Desegregation Case
Related: Latino Civil Rights Group Fights to Keep Desegregation Order on the Books

The members of the public who testified yesterday unanimously supported preserving the 28-year-old consent decree—some recommended strengthening it.

Sumi Cho is a parent at one of the city’s magnet schools. She said she believes Chicago is still running a dual system—with certain neighborhood and magnet schools for whites and wealthier families, and another system for everyone else.

CHO: That’s not fair, and for that reason we still need federal government supervision of CPS.

CPS attorney Patrick Rocks said the district will present strong evidence to show that it has complied with all the terms of the decree.

Three civil rights groups filed a brief in the case. They want a plan from the district to guarantee that minority students still get seats at the city’s top schools.