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Report claims choice schools are ‘hyper-segregated’

HARTFORD, Conn. – A new report released Wednesday by Connecticut Voices for Children concludes that children attending charter, inter-district magnet, and technical schools are more racially isolated than students attending local public schools.

The report, which some say highlights the need to address how schools are funded, concluded that a majority of magnet and technical schools are integrated with no fewer than 25 percent and no more than 75 percent minority students. On the other hand, the report found that “charter schools are hyper-segregated.” It found that about 90 percent of students who attend charters are minorities.

In Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, and Stamford charter schools are more segregated by race and ethnicity than the local public schools in all four towns based on information provided by the state Education Department. The report includes data from the 2011 and 2012 school year.

“In spite of state laws requiring charter and magnet schools to reduce racial and ethnic isolation of students, only inter-district magnet schools are typically integrated, and a majority of the state’s charter schools are highly segregated,” researchers for Connecticut Voices for Children concluded.

Why is racial integration necessary in school?

See the complete story at CT News Junkie.

Comments

4 responses to “Report claims choice schools are ‘hyper-segregated’”

  1. Norwalk Spectator

    So, according to this study, what really counts is the racial make up of the student body, not whether or not the students are learning or how they where chosen to attend. The full length article points out that in Bridgeport, Achievement First enrollment is done by lottery, just as it is done at Columbus. The schools have no say in who applies for that lottery, nor do they have any real control over the drawing of the names. Yet this is still a problem? Shouldn’t the focus be on student’s learning and not the color of their skin?

  2. Marjorie M

    “Robert Cotto, one of the author’s of the report, said “national research is pretty clear that racial and ethnic integration of schools, particularly by policy has benefits to all children both white children and children of color.”

    He said children who attend school in diverse settings are more likely to succeed in college and a multicultural society.”

    I question the benefits of creating a “ghetto” for our children of color. Are we really in favor of segregation for the right reasons? Is it based on irrational fear? What will the unaccounted outcomes be for these students? There are no easy answers. Anyone who says they have the answers is a snake-oil salesman. Integration at an early age? Segregation? I’m not sure, but I would hope someone is visiting the all black schools and observing what is really happening.

  3. Lifelong Teacher

    Marjorie just likes to throw mud out there. Visit the Achievement First charter schools in Hartford, some years just about 100% minority, and student performance on standardized testing is outstanding. T Bridgeport is very new, so I am not sure about that one.

    Some of Norwalk’s schools have very few white students. Take a good look at the achievement data for their challenged populations. You would be surprised – they’re doing a great job.

    Spectator is right: focus on the students and not the color of their skin.

  4. Marjorie M

    Lifelong Teacher, stop badgering me. Perhaps you should get back to work? I quoted the next lines of the article. If you don’t like the article, respond to it, but don’t smear me at every opportunity.

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