Reply to What can be done to level the playing field?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]It's true that integrated/socio-economically diverse schools bring up test scores for disadvantaged students in a way that more funding thrown at hypersegregated schools doesn't. But the gap doesn't disappear.

I am a strong believer in encouraging school systems to reduce pockets of segregation. They can incentivize going to school out of zone through specialty programs (transportation must be provided or else this is just a way to further advantage already advantaged people). "Minority to majority" transfer programs (giving preference via an otherwise blind lottery for students who would be a minority at the school they're applying to) can also help. And of course, encouraging people to consider their local schools if they are being overlooked due to "test scores" (which is usually code for "I don't think enough people like me go to this school").

To answer your original question, it seems from research that it is simply having that diversity of economic conditions in a school that makes the difference. We can imagine why, certainly . . . compare two schools that pay teachers the same, but one is hypersegregated and pulls almost entirely from a public housing court, whereas another has students in public housing all the way up to students with second homes. A teacher is just one person . . . how much can they accomplish in the hypersegregated classroom, versus how much in a classroom where students who haven't had any advantages are only a fraction and there are parent volunteers and PTA money for extras?

Of course, I want us to pay teachers more, fund schools better, etc. But I also believe that diverse schools are good for all of us, and I'm happy to send my kids to them. No child should be attending a Jim Crow school in 2022.[/quote]

It sounds good, but certainly sounds like the teachers will need to teach to the more disadvantaged students, leaving the high achievers to fend for themselves / ignored.[/quote]

It does sound good but it will also lower a high-SES school's GS rating which will in turn anger wealthy parents who believe this impacts their property values. Nevertheless, I think they should at least try to have greater SES diversity at all schools without resorting to long-distance busing.[/quote]

All that means is that the schools closest to lower SES neighborhoods bear the brunt of diversity while the further away neighborhoods continue to enjoy better schools [/quote]

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