Key Takeaways:
– The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) has filed a lawsuit against the Columbus City Board of Education alleging transport discrimination.
– The school board has reportedly refused to provide transportation to students attending private and Christian schools, a violation of state laws.
– The district’s failure to provide transportation, according to ACLJ, goes beyond the law itself and infringes on the fundamental right of parents to direct the education of their children.
Columbus City Board Accused of Discrimination
In a significant move, the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) has filed a lawsuit against the Columbus City Board of Education, Ohio. The ACLJ alleges that the school district is discriminating against Christian students by refusing to provide them with transportation.
Neglecting Transport Obligations
The crux of the matter lies in the responsibilities of the school district. According to state law, all school districts in Ohio must provide transportation to students within their jurisdiction, regardless of the school they attend. This includes students going to private schools, many of which are Christian institutions. However, the Columbus School Board seems to have disregarded this obligation.
Without notice, the school board terminated transport for over 1,000 students. Many families found out about this decision after the school year had begun, continuing to await school buses that never arrived.
Ignoring Appeals for Transportation
In the event that a school district is unable to provide transportation, Ohio law necessitates that the school board provide transport as long as a parent is in the process of appealing the decision. Nevertheless, the Columbus School Board has reportedly not provided transportation for families appealing their decision.
This situation, according to the ACLJ, is a massive violation of Ohio state law, one that becomes even more egregious considering the lack of any plausible justification. Despite the dilemma, the school board’s stance has been to get the case dismissed on the ground that the law already imposes a penalty for denying required transportation.
The ACLJ’s Counter Argument
The ACLJ refutes this line of thinking, pointing out that the law was violated and that the mere penalty provision does not rectify the harm caused to students and their families. Per ACLJ, the section requires the school board to ensure education access via transportation unconditionally, irrespective of costs or difficulties.
Furthermore, the ACLJ argues that this law is not optional or susceptible to the whim of the school board’s discretion. If a student challenges the school board’s impractical transportation arrangements, that student is entitled to immediate transport for as long as the dispute persists, cites the legal team.
Highlighting the stakes in the fight, the ACLJ describes it as a matter about the foundational right of parents to guide their children’s education, free of excessive governmental interference. Meanwhile, the school board’s refusal to organize transportation continues to violate these rights.
As for the next steps, the Ohio Supreme Court is on the receiving end of the appeal to direct the school district to stop its discriminatory practices. The persistence of the ACLJ, the parents, and the concerned students in their fight for transport rights signals a strong determination to draw attention to and rectify an apparent gross injustice that goes beyond just transport.