New Newsworks Post: Camden's Charter Schools: Law Suits and Politics

It starts here:

Just under two years ago, a group of Camden parents filed a class action complaint with then-New Jersey Education Commissioner Chris Cerf. The parents alleged that placement in the dismally-performing Camden Public Schools violated their children's constitutionally-guaranteed right to a "thorough and effective education system."

Last week, a group of parents filed a complaint with current N.J. Education Commissioner David Hespe alleging that the D.O.E.'s approval of two new charter schools in Camden violated constitutional and procedural regulations by not considering the "financial and segregative impact" on Camden Public Schools.

It's deja vu all over again. While the two parent groups hold opposing positions -- the first group pleads for alternatives to traditional public schools and the latter group argues for the preservation of traditional public schools -- both legal filings teem with political posturing that has nothing to do with what's best for kids.

Read the rest here.