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Duval County Schools Under Civil Rights Review

Cyd Hoskinson
/
WJCT News

The Duval County school district is under review by the Department of Education's Civil Rights Office, according to a letter sent to Congresswoman Corrine Brown.

The compliance review is periodically required to make sure Duval County Public Schools is not discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age, the letter said.

The letter was sent by the assistant secretary for civil rights to Rep. Corrine Brown.

The Civil Rights Office is tasked with investigating complaints of discrimination and routinely reviewing practices at institutions, like the school district, that receive federal financial assistance from the Education Department.

“Compliance reviews are designed to address systemic issues and ensure that violations are readily identified and promptly eliminated,” Assistant Secretary Catherine Lhamon wrote in the letter.

Lhamon said the review will look into whether the district is failing to provide African American and Hispanic students with equitable access to quality education, looking specifically at the effectiveness, stability, qualifications and experience of teachers, school leadership and support staff.

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