The U.S. Department of Education is looking into civil rights complaints over the closing of eight Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools.
The Charlotte Observer reports that the agency's Office of Civil Rights sent notice of the investigation to schools Superintendent Peter Gorman this week.
Last month, the school board voted to close the schools, which serve mostly black, Latino and low-income students. The board says the closings are part of cost-cutting measures required by a difficult budget.
Earlier this year, the Department of Education also began an investigation into the Wake County school board's plan to end a decade-old busing program. Supporters of the program say ending it will effectively resegregate schools.
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