Judge rejects effort to block Washington, D.C., school closings

In Chicago, opponents of proposed school closings have gone to court to stop the district from carrying out its plan. But in Washington, D.C., a similar effort has failed. The Washington Post reports that a federal judge has rejected activists’ claims that school closings in the District of Columbia violate the civil rights of city children. U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg acknowledged in his ruling that the closures will disproportionately affect black, Hispanic and disabled children. But he concludes that there is no evidence that D.C. officials intended to discriminate against certain groups of students. Thirteen Washington, D.C., schools are slated to close in June and two more next year,