Articles

The costs of race preferences

August 14, 2014 | By MERIEM L. HUBBARD

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals recently issued the latest in a long line of decisions in the case of Abigail Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin. Ruling for the University, the Court highlights the supposed benefits of considering race in the admissions process. However, the Court fails to acknowledge the other side of … ...

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Back to School Choice 2014 — Defending Washington's charter schools law

August 20, 2014 | By MERIEM L. HUBBARD

In November 2012, Washington became the forty-second state to allow charter schools. The Charter Schools Act, adopted by one and a half million Washington voters, authorized the establishment of up to forty public charter schools in the first five years. Charter schools are public schools, so they are secular, open to all, and don’t charge & ...

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Washington's Supreme Court hears charter schools argument

October 30, 2014 | By MERIEM L. HUBBARD

On Tuesday, October 28, the Washington Supreme Court heard arguments about the constitutionality of the State’s voter-adopted charter schools law.  Although the opposition pursued a multifaceted assult on the charter schools law, the court focused on a single issue: money. The State Constitution restricts the use of certain funds fo ...

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New York Court Hears Firefighters' Title VII Case

January 08, 2015 | By MERIEM L. HUBBARD

On Tuesday the New York Court of Appeals–New York’s highest court–heard argument in Margerum v. City of Buffalo, a case brought by white firefighters who were not promoted because of their race. The City of Buffalo allowed the fire department’s promotional eligibility lists to expire, because the next applicants in line fo ...

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North Carolina Supreme Court to decide constitutionality of vouchers

February 24, 2015 | By MERIEM L. HUBBARD

Today the North Carolina Supreme Court heard argument in two cases that are of vital interest to approximately 1,800 of the state’s school children. The lawsuits target the school voucher program that has given these low-income kids new hope by allowing them to enroll in private schools.  PLF attorneys filed an amicus brief, with assistanc ...

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New York Court of Appeals orders Buffalo firefighters case to trial

March 31, 2015 | By MERIEM L. HUBBARD

In 2007, twelve firefighters sued the City of Buffalo after they were denied promotions because of their race. Each of the firefighters performed well on the competitive examination, earned a place on the resulting certified eligible list, and received a notice of appointment to a promotional position. No promotions were made. The City’s Civ ...

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Teachers' unions sued for violating First Amendment rights

April 29, 2015 | By MERIEM L. HUBBARD

California teachers’ unions spend millions of dollars on political candidates and initiatives.  That is no secret.   Those dollars, which come from union members’ dues, support democratic candidates and liberal causes, whether or not individual teachers approve of the way the money is spent.  This month, four California teacher ...

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Racial harmony in the third grade

May 31, 2015 | By MERIEM L. HUBBARD

A story in the New York Post reports that a $43,000 per year school in Riverdale, New York, requires third graders to identify their race on a questionnaire and attend weekly sessions with people of their own race.  Why?  Because the school uncovered “miscroagressions” like these:  “A girl puts her hands in another girl& ...

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Colorado Supreme Court finds Scholarship Program unconstitutional

June 30, 2015 | By MERIEM L. HUBBARD

In March 2011, the Douglas County School Board became the first school board in the nation to adopt a private school choice program.  The Douglas County Choice Scholarship Program (CSP) was intended to provide scholarships for up to 500 children in the County, allowing them to attend the private or public school of their choice.  They could ev ...