Anne Roberts and Casey Catron

BACKGROUND Emerged in 1960s to remedy public segregation (DOE, 2004) Written into law: Section 5301 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Authorization Modified to address de facto segregation in the 1970s (Ornstein, Levine, & Gutek, 2011)

MAGNET SCHOOLS Four Major Components (Rossell, 2012): 1. Special curricular theme 2. Role in voluntary desegregation 3. Choice of school by student & parent 4. Access to students beyond a regular attendance zone

OPENING STATEMENT POSITION: Magnet schools are an efficient practice to desegregate schools. They attract a diverse student population, while furthering their academic achievement. They provide for a happier staff, academically advanced student body and a more involved community.

ADVANTAGES A diverse student body Specialized curriculum/ theme-based education Distinguished faculty/theme-based training Higher attendance rates Higher graduation rates Lower drop-out rates Increased achievement scores Increased parent and community involvement Provides a feeling of a safer learning environment (Magnet schools of America, 2007)

CONSIDERATIONS Magnet schools attract students of a diverse background as well as students outside of their designated schooling zone. In turn, this helps to diversify a school that would otherwise predominately be minorities. (Chen, 2007) White students typically make up only 32% of the student body. (Meeks, Meeks & Warren, 2002) Desegregation is typically acquired by white students choosing to enroll in the magnet school located in a minority schooling zone. (Crouch, 1999) When students of low socioeconomic status attend a magnet school, they have higher achievement rates than similar students that remain in their zoned public school. (Chen, 2007) 80% of magnet schools have an average reading and math proficiency score above their neighboring schools. (Crouch, 1999)

References Crouch, M. (1999). Magnet Schools and Other Means of Desegregation. Poverty & Prejudice: Our Schools Our Children. Retrieved from agnet.htm agnet.htm Department of Education. (2004). Elementary & Secondary Education. U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved from: Magnet Schools of America (2007). What are magnet schools? Retrieved from Meeks, L., Meeks, W., & Warren, C. (2002). Racial Desegregation. Education and Urban Society, 33 (1), Retrieved from Ornstein, A. C., Levine, D. U., Gutek, G. L., & Vocke, D. E. (2011). Foundations of Education. (11 ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Pub Co. Rossell, C. (2012). The Desegregation Efficiency of Magnet Schools. Urban Affairs Review, 38 (5),