The Case For Social Integration

By Dr. Marciene Mattleman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Almost 60 years since the Supreme Court ruled on the issue of segregation, many districts are still struggling to achieve racially and economically diverse schools.

Studies on the growing achievement gaps between rich and poor students is mounting and a group of researchers, advocates and educators met this past spring to prepare a compilation of new and recent research.

The Future of School Integration: Socioeconomic Diversity As An Education Reform Strategy was released by the Washington-based Century Foundation.

With a growing consensus that it's unfair to condemn low-income students to high-poverty schools just because their parents can't afford to live in better neighborhoods, it was noted that at least 80 districts are implementing plans to integrate schools by socioeconomic status, some using magnet schools in poor neighborhoods to lure higher income kids.

The book also adds to studies that show that students perform better in schools where poverty is not concentrated.

Read more on this important topic at EdWeek.org.