LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Two Louisville parents have filed a civil rights lawsuit against Jefferson County Public Schools for its decision to end bus service to most traditional and magnet schools.

It is believed to be the first lawsuit against the actions of JCPS, according to a news release, and was filed Thursday, June 20, 2024. The suit is against Jefferson County Public Schools, the Jefferson County Board of Education and JCPS Superintendent Marty Pollio.

The plaintiffs in the case are Mary Bledsew and Taryn Bell. The lawsuit says their children planned to attend the following magnet schools next year: Male High, Central High School and Whitney Young Elementary. Because of JCPS’s decision to stop busing for magnet and traditional schools, they will now have to attend their home schools, the lawsuit says. It notes that one of the children has special needs.

The suit charges that the children were among the 14,000 African Americans “placed in choice zones by the Defendants and encouraged with transportation provided, to enroll and attend the magnet and traditional programs for an improved educational outcome and to decrease the achievement gaps between African American students and Caucasian students of 15 to 60% which has existed for three generations of students attending JCPS." 

The lawsuit goes on to say that Uber, taxi and other ride share programs would be monetarily prohibitive for the plaintiffs and other similarly situated African Americans. Limiting access to magnet and traditional schools, the suit says, is unconstitutional and violative of rights guaranteed under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

The lawsuit alleges the actions of JCPS “created disproportionate and disparate treatment” of the children of Bledsew and Bell and similarly situated African American students who cannot afford private transportation. It says JCPS’ decision to end busing will “intentionally cause high schools in lower socio-economic neighborhoods to become overcrowded havens for violence and cause abysmal educational outcomes to become even worse.”

Bledsew and Bell demand that JCPS continue to provide transportation to magnet and traditional schools in order to prevent discrimination against their children.

A spokesperson for JCPS said, "We have just received a copy of the lawsuit and are reviewing it." The spokesperson noted that transportation will continue for Central and Western high schools and that federal law requires public school districts to provide transportation for special needs students with Individual Education Plans that include transportation.

After a botched rollout of a new transportation plan at the beginning of the school year and a continued struggle to recruit bus drivers, the Jefferson County Board of Education voted 4-3 in an April 10 meeting to cut bus transportation to all traditional magnet schools except for Western and Central high schools.