A University of Illinois education expert testified Tuesday in federal court that students forced to change schools often suffer adverse affects.
“The body of research is definitive,” said Pauline Lipman, an education policy professor at UIC. “Mobility is harmful to students.”
Lipman, who also said research on school closings was limited, testified for the plaintiffs in a hearing on two lawsuits filed by the Chicago Teachers Union on behalf of parents that seek to stop Chicago Public Schools from closing 49 elementary schools and one high school program.
The lawsuits allege that the district’s school-closing plan will unfairly impact African-American students and special-needs children.
One lawsuit seeks a delay of at least a year before CPS is allowed to carry out its closings plan, while the other requests a permanent injunction against closings. The cases were consolidated for the purpose of the hearing, but will be ruled on separately.
Lucy Witte, executive director of the West Central Joint Services Special Education Cooperative in Indiana, said CPS needs more time to fully implement transition plans for its special-needs students.
The hearings are set to continue through Friday.
Tribune reporter Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah contributed.
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