Education

The Chicago Teachers Union hopes that a pair of discrimination lawsuits will shut down the city’s plans to close dozens of public schools.

On Wednesday, a group of parents backed by the CTU filed lawsuits against Chicago Public Schools stating that the district’s plans to shutter 53 elementary schools would illegally displace students with special needs and those in low-income areas of the city.

“If you really want to drive down academic achievement among children, here is a good way to do it,” said Thomas Geoghegan, one of the attorneys handling the cases.

One week before the Chicago Board of Education votes on whether to close 53 elementary schools and one high school program, the board of commissioners for the city’s Public Building Commission approved an estimated $160 million worth of capital investments in 100 school facilities. Those facilities will take in students from closing schools if the Board of Education approves the school closings.