Advocacy Letter
Civil Rights Complaint Challenging Discriminatory School Closures in Pittsburgh
On July 14, 2026, Advancement Project and our grassroots partner 412 Justice filed a complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission on behalf of five Black students attending schools in the Pittsburgh Public Schools District.
The complaint challenges the PPS Board of Directors’ vote on May 27, 2026, to close twelve schools and displace 6,000 students, predominantly in Black neighborhoods. The complaint alleges that the Board and District ignored abundant community feedback that detailed how their plan discriminates against Black students.
On October 7, 2026, Advancement Project filed a Petition for Rule to Show Cause due to PPS’ failure to file an answer to complaint as required under Pennsylvania law. The petition asks the Commission to enter a judgment against the school district on the issue of liability and initiate proceedings to determine damages and remedies to address the discrimination Black PPS students have suffered.