This report analyzes changing racial composition in a comparable subset of schools to enable policy-relevant comparisons between charter and magnet schools. It reports the levels of segregation and diversity in these two systems, which is important because of strong evidence that diverse schools produce educational gains and substantial lifelong…

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) was asked to examine the prevalence and growth of segregation in K-12 public schools. This report examined the extent of (1) racial, ethnic, and economic divisions in K-12 public schools; and (2) district secession and any resulting student demographic shifts. To determine the extent of divisions along…

The "Brown v. Board of Education" decision ruled racial school segregation unconstitutional over 60 years ago. Although widespread desegregation followed initially, the past several decades have seen increasing resegregation, as evidenced by a decreasing proportion of black students in the average white students' schools and an…

Educational and sociological scholars frequently debate how racial dynamics between neighborhoods and their public schools can maintain or exacerbate educational inequality. Drawing on secondary data from the Georgia Department of Education, 2000 Census Bureau, and attendance boundaries for metro Atlanta public high schools, this study…

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) replaced the No Child Left Behind Act with great fanfare and enthusiasm. Granting more power to states and curbing what was seen as federal overreach was well received. However, the new legislation maintains a predominately test-based accountability system with a federal mandate for interventions in well over…

Throughout much of the nation, parents have a clear-cut choice of where to educate their children--in a public school, at taxpayer expense, or in a private school, at the family's expense. In Milwaukee and some other cities, however, that line is not so clear; students can attend public schools operated by private organizations and private schools…

Educational opportunities and outcomes for California's Latino students have improved over the last half century. Even so, Latino students continue to face barriers in opportunity that make it harder for them to achieve college, career, and future success. The goal of this report is to describe what Latino students currently experience in…

Are most charter schools more racially segregated than traditional public schools (TPS)? How do local circumstances affect the degree to which charter schools are more racially segregated or diverse than TPSs? As the charter school movement in Michigan and nationwide gains popularity, these questions have become important policy issues. In order…

Since school busing has not desegregated schools, a plan is presented allowing students to transfer with free transportation within a school district. If this plan is not adopted, the need is cited for federal legislation that prohibits compulsory busing from placing a burden on any race. (MD)

"Straight A's: Public Education Policy and Progress" is a biweekly newsletter that focuses on education news and events both in Washington, DC and around the country. The following articles are included in this issue: (1) State of American Business: U.S. Chamber of Commerce Says U.S. Could Face a "Severe Worker Shortage" Unless…

Despite years of litigation the desegregation of United States public schools remains unfinished. Even after court-ordered desegregation, a school district may remain segregated through various practices such as ability grouping and selective discipline of minority children. These second generation discrimination or resegregation practices have an…

While the task of defining and counting the Hispanic population is very complex and existing data is inconsistent, several trends emerge with implications for public education policy. Between 1970 and 1980, California's Hispanic population increased by 50% to 4.5 million, 19.2% of the state population, and is expected to increase to between 24.4%…

Examines the determinants of public school segregation in 65 metropolitan areas in 1968 and segregation changes between 1968 and 1976. Although city and suburban school segregation declined during the 1970s, segregation between cities and suburbs increased. Boundaries between city and suburban school systems appear to foster inequalities within…

Asserts that school districts' efforts to integrate schools have failed to ameliorate the racial isolation of black students. Finds that schools remain segregated primarily because of continued residential segregation and that school integration efforts have had little long-term effect on residential segregation. (CFR)

In an effort to foster better understanding of the crucial role of the courts in protecting all persons from legislative and executive overreaching, this report examines and evaluates the Helms-Johnston Amendment, one of many efforts Congress is making to limit the authority of federal courts in cases involving the controversial issues of…