The New York City’s Department of Education has decided to close two charter schools in Brooklyn and Queens at the end of the 2012 school year. These schools are Williamsburg Charter High School and Peninsula Preparatory Charter School. The Williamsburg Charter High School was put on probation in Fall 2011 for not following the city’s improvement recommendations. The Peninsula Preparatory Charter School is set to close because students test scores fell below the goals in the school’s charter. After the schools close, there will only be eight charter schools left in New York City. Learn More
At times like these, teachers who lose their jobs without cause may have a legal claim. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects teachers at both public and private schools, allowing them to enjoy rights in their contracts which are similar to due process rights. This includes the inability of a private school to dismiss the teacher without cause, notice, or a hearing. Learn More.
In order to file a claim, a charge may be filed by mail or in person at the nearest EEOC office. Individuals may consult their local telephone directory or call 1-800-669-4000 to contact the nearest EEOC office for more information on specific procedures for filing a charge. As a time limit, laws enforced by EEOC, except for the Equal Pay Act, all charges must be filed with EEOC within 180 days from the date of the alleged violation, in order to protect the charging party’s rights. This 180-day filing deadline is extended to 300 days if the charge also is covered by a state or local anti-discrimination law. For ADEA charges, only state laws extend the filing limit to 300 days. The information which must be provided to file such a charge are as follows:
I. The complaining party’s name, address, and telephone number;
II. The name, address, and telephone number of the respondent employer, employment agency, or union that is alleged to have discriminated, and number of employees (or union members), if known;
III. A short description of the alleged violation (the event that caused the complaining party to believe that his or her rights were violated); and
IV. The date(s) of the alleged violation(s).
Learn More
Leeds Morelli & Brown P.C. is an established equal opportunity and civil rights firm in New York which works to achieve successful judgments that are in the best interests of their clients. If you or someone you know has been affected by civil rights violations, contact Leeds, Morelli & Brown, PC at 1-800-585-4658 or view their web page at www.lmblaw.com.