Charging that the Department of Education has broken state law by announcing school closures without community consultation, the New York Civil Liberties Union announced today a lawsuit against the Department of Education in New York State Supreme Court, filed by New York City public school parents and Community Education Council representatives Olaiya Deen, David Grinage and Jennifer Freeman, who regular readers will recognize as an Insideschools' columnist.

Joining the suit are UFT/AFT president Randi Weingarten and Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum.

"The DOE should not pit parents against parents and students against students," Weingarten said. Plaintiffs say that students and families are disenfranchised when the DOE elects to close struggling schools, like PS 150in Brooklyn and PS 194andPS 241 in Harlem, without consultation -- and without guaranteeing families locally zoned schools or access to the charters slated to replace 194 and 241.

"The DOE is doing what it wants and telling us after the fact. That's not choice," said Sarita Mendez, a PS 150 parent with two daughters at the school.

"The law requires community approval," said Weingarten, via a NYCLU press release. "The DOE is showing total disregard for the public's concerns and the law."