November 14, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
National Coalition on School Diversity Celebrates 15 Years of Advancing School Integration
Washington, D.C. – November 14, 2024 – This year marks several significant civil rights anniversaries—70 years since Brown v. Board of Education, 60 years since Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and 50 years since Milliken v. Bradley. In addition, the National Coalition on School Diversity (NCSD) celebrates a milestone of its own: 15 years of championing school integration and advancing diversity and equity in education.
Founded in 2009 by nine civil rights organizations—including the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF), Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, American Civil Liberties Union’s Racial Justice Program, Harvard’s Charles Hamilton Houston Institute, and the Poverty & Race Research Action Council (PRRAC), which serves as NCSD’s fiscal sponsor—NCSD emerged from the Supreme Court’s historic Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1 decision. In that 4-1-4 decision, the Court shifted the school integration landscape while recognizing the pursuit of racial diversity and reduction of racial isolation in elementary and secondary public schools as compelling government interests. In the wake of the ruling, NCSD’s founding members worked to amplify the social science evidence on the benefits of school integration and ensure that policymakers reprioritized school diversity. The belief was that a single-issue coalition was necessary to bring renewed attention to the longstanding and persistent issue of segregated and inequitable education in America.
Since its founding, NCSD has exceeded expectations, expanding from its original nine members to over 80 member organizations and individual members today. The coalition has become the primary hub for the school integration movement—advocating for evidence-based policies, shaping and disseminating research, and supporting the work of state and local integration advocates.
“We’re incredibly proud of how far NCSD has come in these 15 years,” said Phil Tegeler, PRRAC’s executive director and founding member of NCSD. “The coalition has remained steadfast in advancing the promise of Brown, working to address the challenges of segregated and inequitable education in America. Our efforts, while not without challenges, have brought about real progress, and we continue to believe in the power of integrated schools to create equitable opportunities for all students.”
Over the past 15 years, NCSD has produced a wealth of resources, including dozens of policy briefs, research briefs, and reports; spearheaded over 50 advocacy letters to Congress and the Department of Education; and hosted numerous Hill briefings, thought leader discussions, and four national conferences that have convened policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to advance holistic school integration. The coalition’s ongoing advocacy has helped generate a series of critical—albeit incremental—policy wins in support of school integration. A recent example is the Department of Education’s new Fostering Diverse Schools Demonstration Grants Program.
Looking forward, NCSD remains committed to its mission in the face of legal and political challenges. “As we reflect on the progress made since NCSD’s founding and other key milestones, we know our work is far from over,” said Gina Chirichigno, NCSD’s director. “We hope more people will join us in our efforts to secure integrated, equitable, and thriving schools for every child.”
About NCSD:
Founded in 2009, the National Coalition on School Diversity (NCSD) is a cross-sector network of 50+ national civil rights organizations, university-based research centers, and state and local coalitions working to expand support for school integration. NCSD supports its members in designing, enacting, implementing, and uplifting PK-12 public school integration policies and practices so we may build cross-race/class relationships, share power and resources, and co-create new realities.
For more information about NCSD and its 15th anniversary celebration, join us this evening at the Morrow Hotel in Washington, D.C.: https://ncsdat15.eventbrite.com
Media Contact:
Jenna Roberson
NCSD Communications Manager
jroberson@prrac.org
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Several recent national surveys have found support for school integration. This fact sheet, American Attitudes on School Integration: Recent Polling Results, summarizes findings from three school integration polls, conducted by The Washington Post-Ipsos, Brown’s Promise, and The Century Foundation, and offers key takeaways and sample messages on how to talk about school integration using a positive framing.
In the two decades following the landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision, tens of thousands of Black educators in the South and border states lost their jobs. Few scholars have studied how Brown impacted Black teachers in the North. Did they have the same experience?
NCSD’s new report begins to answer this question: “The Impact of Brown v. Board of Education on Black Teachers Outside of the South, 1934-1974,” by Zoë Burkholder, a professor of educational foundations at Montclair State University.
In tracing the complex history of Black teachers outside the South before and after 1954, Burkholder finds that, unlike those in the South, Black teachers in the North generally did not lose their jobs directly or indirectly due to Brown. The story is much more complicated.
As we continue to reflect on what is required to truly fulfill the promise of Brown, we invite you to read this timely and insightful report that offers important nuance to the conversation on the impact of the Court’s decision on Black educators.
Join us on the Hill (in person or virtually) on March 13 at 11:30am ET for a policy briefing hosted by The Civil Rights Project at UCLA. Featuring Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA), and moderated by CRP co-directors Gary Orfield and Patricia Gandara.
Speakers include: Jacob Faber (New York University), Susan Faircloth (Two Feathers Consulting), Erica Frankenberg (Pennsylvania State University), Emma Garcia (Learning Policy Institute), Raul Hinojosa (UCLA), Carolyn Liebler (University of Minnesota), Ryan Pfleger, (UCLA Civil Rights Project), Jennifer Van Hook (Pennsylvania State University), Manuel Vazquez Cano (Education Northwest), and Kimberly Young (Culver City USD).
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February 20, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, D.C. – February 20, 2024 – Today, the U.S. Supreme Court released an order denying a petition to take up the Coalition for TJ v. Fairfax County School Board specialized school admissions case. The decision comes after multiple deliberations following a petition for writ of certiorari filed by the Pacific Legal Foundation on behalf of the parent group challenging Virginia’s top-ranked public high school’s recently-adopted process for student placement.
The National Coalition on School Diversity (NCSD) and Georgetown Law’s Racial Equity in Education Law and Policy Clinic (REEL Policy Clinic) commend the Supreme Court’s order given its implications for educational access, diversity, and equity. This decision to deny certiorari comes the same year Brown v. Board of Education turns 70, which at its core recognized that K-12 public education is about ensuring equitable access to high-quality education for all students.
“Diversity in our nation’s schools is vital if we are to function as a multiracial democracy,” said Janel George, associate professor of law and director of the REEL Policy Clinic. “TJ has taken action to provide more children with access to its high-quality program, which is aligned with the goal of public education and with magnet schools historically.”
Last May, the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled to uphold the admissions policy for the selective-enrollment high school, finding that it had not discriminated against Asian American students as the plaintiffs alleged. One month later, the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action at Harvard University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, ruling that such admissions policies violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
In crafting its colorblind rationale for the college admissions decision, the Supreme Court majority ignored the well-documented continuing impacts of systemic inequality and racial segregation in our nation’s public schools. Not only do schools remain deeply segregated by race and class, but students of color are more likely to attend underfunded and high-poverty schools with less effective instruction and reduced access to advanced coursework, extracurricular activities, and standardized testing preparation.
Within two months of the Supreme Court’s decision, the writ of certiorari was filed, asking the Court to declare that TJ’s pro-diversity admissions policy – which is explicitly race-neutral – violates the Equal Protection Clause. The changes to TJ’s process for student placement included 1) elimination of a standardized test, 2) establishment of new eligibility criteria (the top 1.5% of students at each public middle school who meet minimum standards); and 3) incorporation of a “holistic review of…students whose applications demonstrate enhanced merit.”
These changes aimed to acknowledge and help address the diminished educational opportunities, often correlated with a student’s race and socioeconomic background, due to long-standing and persistent systemic inequality. Following the murder of George Floyd and racial reckoning of 2020, the changes to TJ’s admissions policy can be seen as an attempt to provide a fairer chance for all students to access what is consistently ranked among the top ten best public high schools in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report.
While the plaintiffs alleged that the 2020 changes to TJ’s process for student placement were designed to reduce the proportion of Asian American students at the school, Asian American students still made up the majority of students admitted under the new policy. Of the students who received offers to attend TJ, 54.36% were Asian, 22.36% white, 11.27% Latino, and 7.9% Black. The first freshmen class included more low-income students, Black and Latino students, English-language learners, and girls than prior classes. Moreover, for the first time in over a decade, all 28 middle schools in Fairfax County sent students to TJ.
Although no formal explanation for the denial is given, Justice Alito wrote a dissenting opinion, joined by Justice Thomas, which focuses mostly on challenging the Fourth Circuit’s reasoning that there was insufficient “disparate impact” to violate the Equal Protection Clause.
“The fact that only two justices dissented from the denial of Cert is a good sign,” said Philip Tegeler, a legal advisor with NCSD. “It means that, at least for now, a significant majority of the Court is unwilling to overturn the 2007 precedent that local school districts have the power, and the tools, to promote school diversity without selecting students on the basis of their race.”
Given this reality, NCSD and the REEL Policy Clinic express appreciation for the Supreme Court’s denial of the appeal. We will continue to fight and strengthen our collective efforts to promote equal educational opportunity in our nation’s public schools and help ensure every young person has a fair shot at achieving their full potential.
For media inquiries, please contact: Jenna Tomasello (jtomasello@prrac.org)
Founded in 2009, the National Coalition on School Diversity (NCSD) is a cross-sector network of 50+ national civil rights organizations, university-based research centers, and state and local coalitions working to expand support for school integration. NCSD supports its members in designing, enacting, implementing, and uplifting PK-12 public school integration policies and practices so we may build cross-race/class relationships, share power and resources, and co-create new realities.
The Racial Equity in Education Law and Policy Clinic (REEL Policy Clinic) centers its work on the intersections of education law, racial equity, and legislative advocacy. Student attorneys explore the origins of racial inequities in education and the role of law in entrenching or eliminating them. This work includes addressing issues that disproportionately impact the educational experiences and outcomes of students of color, including discriminatory school discipline practices, school segregation, resource inequities, and more.
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Our latest fact sheet summarizes five legal challenges to recently-revised admissions policies used to determine which students can gain access to specialized middle and high schools. Such challenges have emerged in Philadelphia, PA (2022); Fairfax County, VA (2021); Boston, MA (2021); Montgomery County, MD (2020); and New York City, NY (2018).
The original complaints for these cases can be found below:
PHILADELPHIA, PA
Sargent, et al. v. School District of Philadelphia (2022)
PA_Sargent_Complaint
FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA
Coalition for TJ v. Fairfax County School Board (2021)
VA_TJ_Complaint
BOSTON, MA
Boston Parent Coalition for Academic Excellence Corporation v. The School Committee of the City of Boston, et al. (2021)
MA_Boston School Comm Complaint
NCSD Issues Statement on Supreme Court Ruling in Harvard and UNC Cases
Diversity in Our Nation’s Schools Promotes Educational Opportunity and Strengthens Our Democracy
In the face of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in the Harvard University and University of North Carolina admissions cases, the National Coalition on School Diversity (NCSD) reiterates its unwavering commitment to defend our nation’s greatest strength—our multiracial diversity.
At NCSD, we firmly believe that diversity is not a mere buzzword but a cornerstone of educational excellence. When students from various backgrounds learn alongside one another, they gain invaluable insights that transcend textbooks and classroom lessons. Exposure to different perspectives, cultures, and ideas fosters critical thinking, empathy, and understanding. It equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in our increasingly interconnected and multiracial democracy.
For nearly 50 years, efforts to achieve diversity in higher education have also played a crucial role in leveling the playing field and providing equitable opportunities to historically marginalized communities. Admissions policies that acknowledge students’ racial backgrounds, among other factors, recognize that systemic barriers – often tied to income and wealth disparities, residential segregation, and historical inequities – can hinder access to quality education.
Today’s Supreme Court decision makes our coalition’s work even more critical. Policies and practices that promote diversity in PK-12 schools play an important role in ensuring that our education system does not become even more racially fragmented, and that educational resources and opportunities are equitably distributed. NCSD calls on policymakers, education leaders, researchers, advocates, and organizers to demonstrate their unwavering commitment to school diversity. We must stand united in our determination to build a future where all students – regardless of income, zip code, or racial and ethnic background – are provided an education to realize their highest potential. The principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion are core to our efforts in achieving a stronger, more just, fair, and opportunity-rich America for all.
NCSD and our members remain resolute in our commitment to defending diversity and equity in our nation’s schools. In the words of several of our members:
“The Supreme Court’s decision goes against decades of social science evidence about the benefits of diversity and harms of segregation in K-12 and higher education. Efforts to ameliorate segregation and inequality in K-12 schools will be even more important to ensure equitable, integrated opportunities for children, youth, and to benefit our communities.” – Erica Frankenberg, Professor of Education and Demography and Director of the Center for Education and Civil Rights, Penn State
“Diversity in K-12 education is vital if our nation is to function as a multiracial democracy. All students benefit from diversity. Diversity in K-12 is even more urgent in light of the Court’s decision if we are to address inequities along racial lines that undermine higher education access, including resource disparities like inequitable access to experienced educators.” – Janel George, Associate Professor of Law and Director of the Racial Equity in Education Law (REEL) Policy Clinic, Georgetown Law
“All students deserve the opportunity to attend schools that are not only well-resourced but also diverse; both elements are critical to ensure equal educational opportunity. After today’s opinion, it’s more important than ever that ELC remains steadfast in our commitment to ensure that PK-12 schools provide students of all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds a fair shot to attend college and realize their full potential.” – Robert Kim, Executive Director, Education Law Center
“It is essential that K-12 educational leaders double down on their school integration efforts, using the many tools available to them to promote racial and socioeconomic diversity in order to prepare students for success in and after high school. The Century Foundation’s Bridges Collaborative has supported leaders from nearly 50 different school districts and charter schools across the country in promoting racial and socioeconomic integration in their schools and communities, and we stand ready to work with more.” – Stefan Lallinger, Executive Director of Next100 and Senior Fellow, and Halley Potter, Pre-K-12 Education Team and Bridges Collaborative Senior Fellow, The Century Foundation
“In the face of today’s Supreme Court setback, we will continue our work to ensure all students can bring their whole, authentic selves to the college admissions process. We reaffirm IDRA’s 50-year commitment to support students of color in overcoming persistent inequalities in K-12 education that create unfair barriers to college.” – Celina Moreno, President and CEO, Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA)
“The Court has made a terrible historic error by telling the nation’s colleges to abandon what their experience has shown them are essential to preserving integration and opportunity. To reduce the loss of talent, educational leaders and policymakers must do all they can to help offset the rising college barriers for students of color. A first step should be a plan of action to repair the shamefully unequal preparation and counseling offered in our segregated high schools and increase access to strong magnet schools. When one gate slams shut, we must start opening others.” – Gary Orfield, Distinguished Research Professor of Education, Law, Political Science, and Urban Planning and Co-Director of The Civil Rights Project, UCLA
“As legally misguided and ahistorical as the Supreme Court’s decision may be, it does not impede the goal of racial and economic integration in K-12 schools. We need to persevere in our commitment to the goal of inclusive and diverse communities and schools.” – Philip Tegeler, Executive Director, Poverty and Race Research Action Council (PRRAC)
IF YOU AGREE WITH US, JOIN US.
For media inquiries, please contact: Jenna Tomasello (jtomasello@prrac.org)
Founded in 2009, the National Coalition on School Diversity (NCSD) is a cross-sector network of 50+ national civil rights organizations, university-based research centers, and state and local coalitions working to expand support for school integration. NCSD supports its members in designing, enacting, implementing, and uplifting PK-12 public school integration policies and practices so we may build cross-race/class relationships, share power and resources, and co-create new realities.
Our first #CiteNite will draw from NCSD’s recent research brief, “Accountability Systems and the Persistence of School Segregation: Research Evidence and Future Directions.”
Hear from authors James Noonan (Salem State University) and Peter Piazza (School Diversity Notebook), as well as experts Raquel Muñiz (Boston College) and David Martínez (University of South Carolina) on the topic of assessment and accountability as we explore the implications of the brief.
#CiteNite has been in the works for a long time, and is a collaboration with the School Diversity Notebook. It’s designed to be a quarterly discussion about research that can help guide and connect the school integration movement.
Register here.
If you’re a researcher or practitioner with an idea for a future #CiteNite topic, please get in touch!
Related Materials:
San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez (1973) 50th Anniversary: Exploring the Link Between School Funding and Segregation
In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court school funding case, San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez (1973), this NCSD and IDRA Twitter chat aims to spark a conversation around the link between school funding and segregation. The Rodriguez case primarily held that Texas’ school finance system, based on property taxes, did not violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, despite producing stark inequities in funding between districts. The Rodriguez Court made two other important findings: that education is not a “fundamental right” under the U.S. Constitution, nor is a person’s income status a protected class.
Today, policies that tie funding levels to local property taxes remain a standard practice. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in FY20, nearly half (44.9%) of all U.S. public school revenue came from local funding, comprised mainly of property taxes. Since Rodriguez, however, state-level school finance litigation and policy reforms have caused shifts in the landscape over the last 50 years. Have these efforts successfully addressed the concerns at issue in Rodriguez?
To what extent does continued reliance on local property taxes systematically deny students living in areas of concentrated poverty equitable and/or adequate school funding? What would it take for all children to have access to diverse, well-resourced schools? What are the barriers to making this a reality? These are just a few of the questions we’ll explore during the chat.
#RodriguezAt50 Twitter Chat – Join us at @diverse_schools on Monday, March 20, 2023 at 1:00pm ET
Our latest fact sheet compiles news about four places that have been grappling with school transportation challenges and describes implications for integration, equity, and student success.
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