David Sirota: Charter Schools May Be Re-Segregating America’s Education System

[marmar]

from In These Times:


Charter Schools May Be Re-Segregating America’s Education System
Charters’ defenders like to position themselves as 21st century civil rights activists. But a Delaware lawsuit alleges that charters are actually worsening racial inequality in the state.

BY DAVID SIROTA


Charter schools are often promoted as a tool to address educational inequities, but a potential precedent-setting legal case launched earlier this month says the opposite. In filings with the U.S. Department of Education, two Delaware nonprofit groups allege that some of the state's publicly funded, privately managed schools are actively resegregating the education system—and in a way that violates federal civil rights law.

The complaint, by the Delaware branch of the American Civil Liberties Union and the Community Legal Aid Society, cites data showing that more than three-quarters of Delaware's charter schools are “racially identifiable”—a term that describes schools whose demographics are substantially different from the surrounding community.

According to the complaint, “High-performing charter schools are almost entirely racially identifiable as white” while “low-income students and students with disabilities are disproportionately relegated to failing charter schools and charter schools that are racially identifiable as African-American or Hispanic.”

The groups are asking the Obama administration to take specific steps, including prohibiting subjective admissions policies for charter schools and barring extra fees for attending charter schools—factors they say discriminate against low-income, disabled and minority students.

Because the case is being filed with the federal government, these actions could have implications for school districts everywhere—and there is already plenty of data tying charter schools to segregation. ..................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://inthesetimes.com/article/17441/charter_schools_may_actually_be_re_segregating_americas_school_system

[ladjf]

1. "May have re segregated"? It's already an almost completely done deal. nt

[GeorgeGist]

2. Figures. Republicans fuck up everything they touch.

[TexasProgresive]

4. Republicans intentionally fuck up everything they touch.

If you think they are fools you are mistaken.

[TexasProgresive]

3. ya think. n/t

[hughee99]

5. If I understand correctly, you get a poor education

At charter schools, perhaps this will at least "level the playing field" as mostly white at being subject to this.

[xchrom]

6. du rec.

[liberal_at_heart]

7. Economic inequality has been re-segregating our schools for the past 30 years.

But charter schools certainly aren't helping.