A new study by the nonpartisan education watchdog Available to All highlights the persistence of segregation in K-12 public schools in the United States, despite the upcoming 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision. The study reveals that school attendance zones and selective admission policies often legally exclude students of color and low-income families from elite public schools, effectively reinstating levels of segregation reminiscent of 1968.
These policies are frequently embedded in state laws and exploited by school officials to favor certain demographics, sometimes even leading to criminal prosecution of low-income families who attempt to enroll their children in more desirable schools outside their designated zones.
For instance, a top-ranked school in Tampa, Florida, maintains an exclusionary zone that aligns with historic redlining maps, barring many nearby low-income children. The study also critiques the reliance on residential addresses for school assignments, which supports "educational redlining," allowing affluent families access to better-resourced schools. This systemic inequality extends to the availability of advanced programs and college preparatory classes, as demonstrated by a stark contrast between two schools in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Available to All recommends legislative changes to protect the enrollment rights of families and urges school districts to de-emphasize geographical boundaries. The study analyzed state education laws across several categories to assess their impact on school segregation and access.
Link: Axios