Children from wealthy families draw more money and receive better services from New York City public schools than their less affluent peers, data indicates.

The school system, which is the nation’s largest, spent $140 million last year to send over 3,000 students in special education to private schools. However, the majority of those obtaining private placements hailed from wealthy neighborhoods, while kids from poorer sections of the city were more likely to languish in underfunded public schools.

The reason for the income discrepancy appears to be access to attorneys willing to take on the school district, often a precursor to the schools agreeing to pay for a private placement. Parents say that it’s common for lawyers to request $5,000 up front to take on a child’s case, plus costs for assessments, reports the New York Daily News. To read more click here.

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