AASA Supports Historic School Desegregation Vote in House
This week the House will vote on the Strength In
Diversity Act, the first federal legislation focused on desegregation
in schools to receive a vote in 30 years. As we walk-the-talk on AASA’s
commitment to equity, this legislation is a promising first step that will
incentivize and resource district leaders to create more equitable school
systems.
The Strength in Diversity Act would provide federal
funding ($120m/per year) to support voluntary local efforts to increase
diversity in schools.
- Grants could fund a
range of proposals, including (but not limited to):
- Studying segregation,
evaluating current policies, and developing evidence-based plans to
address socioeconomic and racial isolation.
- Establishing public school
choice zones, revising school boundaries, or expanding equitable access
to transportation for students.
- Creating or expanding
innovative school programs that can attract students from outside the
local area.
- Recruiting, hiring, and
training new teachers to support specialized school
AASA Executive Director Dan Domenech said this
about the bill: “The pandemic has highlighted the impact of the economically
and racially segregated school systems that exist across the country today more
clearly than ever before. Legislation that will fund districts to come up with
locally driven, ambitious, and achievable plans to increase diversity will
enable school leaders to create and lead more equitable school districts.”