School Board Affirms Student Assignment Policy in Office of Civil Rights Investigation
March 29, 2011 - The Wake County Board of Education denied allegations of discrimination in a 42-page response to an inquiry by the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights ("OCR"). The school board stated that there is no evidence that any of their decisions about student assignment policies or procedures were "motivated by racial animus. The school board denied that it violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964."The board continues, "Viewed objectively, the record reflects a group of school board members uniformly committed to the educational progress of all Wake County students, grappling with complex policy questions, and reaching different conclusions in good faith about the best way to achieve their common goal."
The school board also notes that it has not adopted a "neighborhood schools" assignment policy or plan. Instead, the current assignment policy uses proximity to residence as one of seven factors to be considered in determining student assignments. The school board is currently implementing the multi-year assignment plan adopted in February 2009 with adjustments.
The school board answered the OCR's request for a "detailed narrative response" to complainants' charge that eliminating socioeconomic status as a student assignment factor discriminated against non-white students.
Wake County Public Schools Superintendent Tony Tata said, "I asked for, and was given, the responsibility of developing a student assignment plan. Our team is creating a long-term, comprehensive proposal that includes the input that we have received from all segments of this community representing all points of view,” he said.
The task force, which is developing the strategic student assignment plan, is expected to present it to the Board of Education for their review, input and approval in late spring.