North Carolina’s largest school district has reversed a policy that was once considered a model for schools wanting to maintain diversity based on economics instead of race.
In a heated public meeting in Raleigh, the Wake County school board voted 5 to 4 to approve a new policy that would place students in schools near their homes. That drew angry chants from opponents, who fear the new policy will lead to the “re-segregation” of wealthy, predominantly white, students to suburban schools and low-income children to high-poverty schools.
Tuesday evening’s vote effectively ends a policy adopted in 1999, when school officials moved from a traditional race-based integration policy, to a busing system that attempted to balance the proportion of students from wealthy and poor neighborhoods at each school. The district determined the economics of each neighborhood based on the percentage of children receiving subsidized lunches.
Supporters hailed the economic diversity program as a way to move beyond racial quotas, while still ensuring equal educational opportunities for disadvantaged children. But many suburban parents grew frustrated with the long drives and bus routes required to get their children to economically balanced schools.
Last year, these parents voiced their frustration at the polls, electing a new school board majority that opposed the 1999 policy. Tuesday evening, that majority gave final approval to a new policy focused on placing children in community-based schools.
Security was tight at the contentious school board meeting. Police arrested three people and removed several others for disrupting the public hearing. At times, chants from protesters outside the hearing room were so loud, board members complained they couldn’t hear the proceedings.
Over the next 15 months, Wake County school officials will develop school assignments based on community zones. Parents hope the end result will be that their children will attend schools closer to home.