March 26 Update -- On the eve of the spring holidays, and a seven day school vacation, the latest update on the DOE's website about the release of the acceptance letters is that there's really no update at all.  "Unfortunately, the judge in the lawsuit brought by the UFT and other petitioners has not issued a decision yet, " thestatement  reads,  "and therefore our hands are tied."

The NY Post, in an editorial today tells the judge in the lawsuit to stop procrastinating and  allow the DOE to release the   letters, while an article written by Post  education reporter Yoav Gonen, speculates that, among other scenarios, the application process may have to begin all over again.

On WABC Eyewitness News,   UFT chairMichael Mulgrew tells reporter Art McFarland that the union stands by its decision to file the lawsuit: "We wouldn't have filed the lawsuit if the Department of Education had not broken the law, but at the same time, the concern that we have for all the students throughout the city, just as we have for those students in those closing schools, is that the court needs to come to a finding quickly."

Share your thoughts-- and any news --  in the comments below.

March 24 Update -- Chancellor Joel Klein released a statement on the delay of high school letters today. "I understand you are anxious to receive this information, and rest assured, the Department of Education is doing everything possible to make the matches available soon," it reads.

The statement acknowledges that the delay is being caused by the NAACP/teachers union lawsuit, but does not comment on the lawsuit or provide an estimated date for the letters' release. It does state that the DOE will issue another update when it "knows more."

March 23 -- Eighth-graders anxiously awaiting receiptof high school acceptances letters tomorrow will have to be patient a while longer. How much longer is not clear. The letters, due to be distributed to students on March 24, are still being held up by court order because of a lawsuit filed against the Department of Education by the NAACP and the teachers union. The lawsuit charges that the DOE acted illegally in moving to close 19 schools.

On Saturday, Liz Sciabarra, CEO of enrollment, told Insideschools that her office was "on target" to send out acceptance letters. At noon today, however, she sent an email to middle school principals, advising them not to go to the borough enrollment offices as planned to pick up the match letters because of "pending litigation."

At 5:40 p.m. she sent another email, this one confirming that the letters are still not available and asking principals to communicate the news to students and their families. She said that a letter explaining the situation to families might be "back packed" home tomorrow.

Here's the full text of the email.

"In my previous e-mail, I advised you that due to pending litigation impacting the high school admissions process, high school admissions letters were not available for pick-up by schools as originally planned. Unfortunately, that remains the case. I will provide you with another update tomorrow and if necessary send a letter for your students to back pack home which will explain the situation to families. Thank you in advance for working with us to communicate this important information to our students and their families.

Sincerely,

Liz Sciabarra

CEO Student Enrollment"

We'll update the news as we get it.