America's backslide on school segregation

Corey Stewart
In this photo taken Thursday, May 27, 2010, Corey Stewart, right, a 24-year-old history teacher works with students during class in Chicago. Stewart's emphasis is on inspiration, so a discussion about Aristotle and Plato, for instance, might lead to comparisons to rap legends Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G.
Charles Rex Arbogast/AP

It's been nearly 60 years since the landmark ruling Brown v. the Board of Education, yet schools around the nation appear to be a on a backslide toward high segregation rates not seen for many decades.

With new census data that shows that our country has a minority majority for the first time ever, many are concerned about the reemerging segregation trend in America's public schools. Does it lead to inadequate education and fail to prepare students for a diverse world? Are our schools facing a new segregation crisis, and what should be done about it?

"Segregation is very much alive in this country," said Richard Kahlenberg, senior fellow at The Century Foundation. "The fact that we have schools that are increasingly segregated by economic status and race is one of the central impediments to a quality education and for the most part there's very little attention put on it."

Kahlenberg will join The Daily Circuit Tuesday to discuss school segregation. Terry Stoops, director of education studies at the John Locke Foundation, will also join the discussion.

"We have several charter schools that are predominately black," Stoops said. "The parents there were polled and the overwhelming majority said as long as our students get a top-notch education and as long as they're safe, the fact that it's black doesn't have any concern to these parents."

KERRI'S TAKEAWAY

When you see examples of schools like Harvest Prep where students are more segregated and succeeding, it complicated the discussion.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.