RALEIGH — Several civil rights groups sent a letter Friday asking the Wake County school board not to approve a new policy that would ban speakers from making personal attacks at meetings.

The board, which has heard heated words about ending its diversity policy, is set to give initial approval Tuesday to a policy that sets guidelines on what speakers can say.

The groups object to language that says "speakers are required to refrain from personal attacks and insults directed at the Board, staff, or other members of the public."

The letter was signed by the ACLU of North Carolina, Legal Aid of North Carolina, the N.C. Justice Center, the state NAACP, the Southern Coalition for Social Justice and the UNC Center for Civil Rights.

Several groups that signed the letter have criticized the board's plans to end busing for socioeconomic diversity.

The board is also set Tuesday to give initial approval to an assignment policy that makes neighborhood schools a priority.