Dispute Exposes Tensions Over Charters' Role in Cities

Charter school students, draped in oversize T-shirts that read "Future NAACP Members," are joined by parents and teachers at a protest rally May 26. The demonstrators want the NAACP to withdraw from a lawsuit against the expansion of charter schools across New York City.

—Nancy Borowick

Lawsuit argues N.Y.C. providing preferential treatment to schools

By Stephen Sawchuk

A fight over educational equity in New York City has all the hallmarks of a classic New York story: an angry union, parent demonstrations, and a lawsuit.

The difference in this case, though, is that it is pitting civil rights groups and camps of minority parents against each other.

The United Federation of Teachers, joined by the New York state conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and other groups, last week filed for a temporary restraining order to block the opening or expansion of 18 public charter schools in space held by traditional public schools. It argues that the plans, approved by the district, would give preferential treatment to students attending those charters over children attending traditional public schools located...