A group of parents and education advocacy organizations have filed a complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission in an effort to stop Pittsburgh Public Schools’ plan to close several schools.WATCH PREVIOUS VIDEO IN PLAYFINDER ABOVE The complaint was filed on behalf of five Black children enrolled in Pittsburgh Public Schools by the students’ parents, Advancement Project, 412 Justice and the Education Rights Network.”This morning, on behalf of five Black children enrolled in Pittsburgh Public Schools, Advancement Project, 412 Justice and the Education Rights Network filed a complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission,” said Adaku Onyeka-Crawford, director of the Opportunity to Learn Program at Advancement Project.Onyeka-Crawford joined Pittsburgh Public Schools parents in announcing what they described as the next step in their efforts to stop the district’s school closure plan.”The complaint details the board’s decades-long history of discriminatory school closures in Black neighborhoods and lays out what students will lose if school closure plans are able to proceed,” Onyeka-Crawford said.The announcement came during the annual Education Rights Network Cookout, where parents representing the five student complainants spoke about the impact they believe the district’s proposal would have on their children and other Black students.Naomi Chambers, whose children attend Miller PreK-5, said the school provides a unique educational experience for her family.”My children love Miller. It is Pittsburgh’s only African Center academy, providing a culture that is especially enriching for us and our community,” Chambers said.Miller PreK-5 is one of 12 schools and nine facilities slated for closure under the district’s proposal. Chambers said she fears the educational benefits offered by the school will disappear if the plan moves forward.”They are excited about school and their classes. They feel safe and nurtured. There are no other plans that we’ve been told from the district of creating another African Center Academy in Pittsburgh,” she said.Wanda Henderson, who filed a discrimination complaint on behalf of Black students in Pittsburgh Public Schools in 1992, said the current effort reminds her of that earlier fight.”It took them four years to realize their parents had legitimate complaint, to want their children to be educated,” Henderson said. “We hope in this case, the commission doesn’t take four years to give us standing on this issue because it’s very important and we need it right now.”The five student complainants and their parents are asking the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission to halt the school closure plan, conduct an equity audit and perform a historical analysis of the impact of previous school closures.”Historically, we’ve seen what has happened with school closures in the past, specifically Black schools and Black communities. And there still hasn’t been any equity for those students,” said Angel Gober, executive director of 412 Justice. “So we need a little bit more information. And we’re hoping that the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission investigates and actually issues a cease and desist on the plan.”As of Wednesday, Pittsburgh Public Schools said it had not yet been informed of the complaint when contacted for comment.Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 will update this story when the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission responds.

PITTSBURGH —

A group of parents and education advocacy organizations have filed a complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission in an effort to stop Pittsburgh Public Schools’ plan to close several schools.

WATCH PREVIOUS VIDEO IN PLAYFINDER ABOVE

The complaint was filed on behalf of five Black children enrolled in Pittsburgh Public Schools by the students’ parents, Advancement Project, 412 Justice and the Education Rights Network.

“This morning, on behalf of five Black children enrolled in Pittsburgh Public Schools, Advancement Project, 412 Justice and the Education Rights Network filed a complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission,” said Adaku Onyeka-Crawford, director of the Opportunity to Learn Program at Advancement Project.

Onyeka-Crawford joined Pittsburgh Public Schools parents in announcing what they described as the next step in their efforts to stop the district’s school closure plan.

“The complaint details the board’s decades-long history of discriminatory school closures in Black neighborhoods and lays out what students will lose if school closure plans are able to proceed,” Onyeka-Crawford said.

The announcement came during the annual Education Rights Network Cookout, where parents representing the five student complainants spoke about the impact they believe the district’s proposal would have on their children and other Black students.

Naomi Chambers, whose children attend Miller PreK-5, said the school provides a unique educational experience for her family.

“My children love Miller. It is Pittsburgh’s only African Center academy, providing a culture that is especially enriching for us and our community,” Chambers said.

Miller PreK-5 is one of 12 schools and nine facilities slated for closure under the district’s proposal. Chambers said she fears the educational benefits offered by the school will disappear if the plan moves forward.

“They are excited about school and their classes. They feel safe and nurtured. There are no other plans that we’ve been told from the district of creating another African Center Academy in Pittsburgh,” she said.

Wanda Henderson, who filed a discrimination complaint on behalf of Black students in Pittsburgh Public Schools in 1992, said the current effort reminds her of that earlier fight.

“It took them four years to realize their parents had legitimate complaint, to want their children to be educated,” Henderson said. “We hope in this case, the commission doesn’t take four years to give us standing on this issue because it’s very important and we need it right now.”

The five student complainants and their parents are asking the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission to halt the school closure plan, conduct an equity audit and perform a historical analysis of the impact of previous school closures.

“Historically, we’ve seen what has happened with school closures in the past, specifically Black schools and Black communities. And there still hasn’t been any equity for those students,” said Angel Gober, executive director of 412 Justice. “So we need a little bit more information. And we’re hoping that the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission investigates and actually issues a cease and desist on the plan.”

As of Wednesday, Pittsburgh Public Schools said it had not yet been informed of the complaint when contacted for comment.

Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 will update this story when the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission responds.