For Immediate Release:
July 20, 2018
PEJ Statement on Plaintiffs’ Victory Opposing Defendants’ Requests to Further Appeal
New York, NY – Partnership for Educational Justice issued the following statement on yesterday’s ruling in the Wright v. New York case. The Intermediate Appellate Court, 2nd Department of the New York State Supreme Court, unanimously denied the defendants’ requests to further appeal previous rulings from the lower courts. The case has been pending for four years, with plaintiff victories at each stage.
“These nine families have been waiting four years to litigate the merits of their case. It’s been long enough. It’s time for the delaying tactics to end and to argue this case on the merits. We are pleased with the court’s decision because it brings these families, and families across New York State, another step closer to getting a quality education for their children,” said Alissa Bernstein, Executive Director of Partnership for Educational Justice.
The Wright v. New York case was first filed in 2014, when nine families from across the state brought suit against the State of New York and others, claiming that teacher tenure, dismissal, and quality-blind layoff laws deprive New York children of their right to a sound basic education as guaranteed under the New York State Constitution.
About Partnership for Educational Justice (PEJ)
PEJ pursues educational equity through legal action to improve the quality of public schools. PEJ utilizes a variety of legal actions to achieve its mission, including pursuing impact litigation, amicus brief filings, Freedom of Information Act requests, and other law-related avenues that seek to achieve meaningful reforms of education laws or policies that fail to prioritize students’ rights. PEJ is an affiliate of the national education nonprofit 50CAN: 50-State Campaign for Achievement Now, which advocates at the local level for a high-quality education for all kids, regardless of their address.
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Contact:
Maggie McKeon
315-730-5101