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Saturday, June 4, 2011

NAACP Enters Heated Battle Over Charter Schools - NY1.com

NAACP Enters Heated Battle Over Charter Schools - NY1.com

NAACP Enters Heated Battle Over Charter Schools

By: Lindsey Christ

The controversy over charter schools continues to divide communities, but now the nation's best-known civil rights organization has taken a side and many people aren't happy. NY1's Lindsey Christ filed the following report.

They say they're fighting a major battle for civil rights: One to ensure that black and Hispanic students have equal access to education. But the problem is, that's what both sides in the charter school fight say they stand for.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People says some charter students get more resources than the public school students. They're now suing the city to keep 17 charters from expanding. But charter school parents say charters offer a better education and give black and Hispanic families the power of school choice.

"I don't really understand why the NAACP would be supporting a lawsuit that is threatening to take away educational opportunities for children of color," said one charter school parent.

"NAACP has stood for over 100 years to fight discrimination. And we stand united, right here on 125th Street and Lenox Avenue and Malcolm X Boulevard to say we will fight all people, all people, that