Deepening School Segregation in a Multiracial Society Why we should care and what we can do about it

Vision of the Virginia State Board of Education The vision…is to create an excellent statewide system of public education that derives strength from our diversity and that ensures equality of opportunity for each student in a safe and healthy learning environment that prepares all students to be capable, responsible, and self-reliant citizens in the global society.

Separate Is Still Unequal Teacher and leader turnover Teacher absenteeism Inexperienced teachers Student absenteeism and transiency Exclusionary discipline Chronic stress and trauma Academic achievement Graduation College-going Facilities and material resources Community and parental involvement Challenging curricula Access to high achieving, highly resourced peer groups and social networks SOURCE: See Linn & Welner, 2007.

Benefits of School Integration for All Students Academic—heightened critical thinking skills, more creative problem solving, better discussions and high quality curricula Social—more cross-racial friendships, less stereotyping, reductions in prejudice Civic—more engaged citizens who are better prepared for multiracial democratic society Long term—perpetuation effects across life cycle See Mickelson & Nkomo, 2012; Phillips, Rodosky, Muñoz, & Larsen, 2009;

Enrollment by Race, Richmond-Petersburg

Black Students in Intensely Segregated Schools, Richmond-Petersburg

Latino Students in Intensely Segregated Schools, Richmond-Petersburg

School Racial Isolation Overlaps with Concentrated Poverty In 2013, 76% of students in the region’s intensely segregated minority schools qualified for free and reduced priced lunch. Fully 93% of students did so in apartheid school settings.

Regional Education Strategies City-suburban consolidation and controlled choice Regional collaboration agreements Regional magnet programs Inter-district transfer options School site selection and rezoning Whole-school magnet programs in gentrifying neighborhoods Dual language immersion programs Nuanced school evaluation

Regional Housing Strategies Advertise and celebrate stable neighborhood diversity Enforce fair housing laws and inclusionary zoning Encourage mixed-income and regional fair share affordable housing development Link federal housing subsidies (e.g., Housing Choice Vouchers and Low Income House Tax Credit) to communities with high opportunity schools Promote regional transportation solutions Limit sprawl

SOURCE: UCLA Civil Rights Project, 2012.