Alexandria, Va. – September 27 – In light of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding race-conscious student assignment policies in K-12 education, the National School Boards Association and the College Board have released a policy paper for school districts--Not Black and White: Making Sense of the United States Supreme Court Decisions Regarding Race-Conscious Student Assignment Plans. This policy paper will serve as a resource for school districts and states that are seeking to improve educational outcomes and ensure equal opportunity by enhancing school-based student diversity.
The paper outlines seven specific policy implications that stem from the Court's June 28 decision in Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1 and relevant federal law. The policy implications include: school districts can pursue diversity-related goals through various means including appropriately designed race-conscious policies aligned with evidence-based educational goals; and race-conscious policies must reflect a fundamental coherence between means and ends – they must be necessary for, and materially advance diversity-related goals.
In addition, the paper distills the Court's 185-page fractured opinion into an overview of key points among various Court majorities. Overall, the policy paper provides guidance to school districts around three core themes. School districts:
- Can take action to promote diversity objectives aligned with their educational goals;
- Must carefully focus on the educational interests associated with diversity objectives when establishing their mission-related goals;
- Must pay particular attention to the means by which they seek to achieve their diversity objectives—and manage a process of review and evaluation of those efforts over time.
“It is essential for NSBA to provide school board members with the tools that will allow them to maintain diverse student populations in their school districts,” said Anne L. Bryant, executive director of NSBA. “In working with the College Board, we wanted to ensure that all school districts are able continue to provide high quality education in diverse environments, and this document helps to do just that.”
“The College Board is committed to connecting diversity efforts with educational excellence at all levels of education. We believe increasing access to educational opportunities for all students should be a national priority,” said Gaston Caperton, president of the College Board. “Our partnership with NSBA allows us to work together to help our members and other educators establish diversity-related policies that make sense for school districts.”
The paper and a guide of frequently asked questions to help school districts in their decisions regarding diversity are online. Its authors, members of Holland & Knight LLP's Education Policy Team, are all former U.S. Department of Education officials.
Founded in 1940, the National School Boards Association is a not-for-profit federation of state associations of school boards across the United States. Its mission is to foster excellence and equity in public elementary and secondary education in the United States through local school board leadership. NSBA represents the school board perspective before federal government agencies and with national organizations that affect education, and by providing vital information and services to state associations of school boards throughout the nation
The College Board is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the association is composed of more than 5,200 schools, colleges, universities, and other educational organizations. Each year, the College Board serves seven million students and their parents, 23,000 high schools, and 3,500 colleges through major programs and services in college admissions, guidance, assessment, financial aid, enrollment, and teaching and learning. Among its best-known programs are the SAT®, the PSAT/NMSQT®, and the Advanced Placement Program® (AP®). The College Board is committed to the principles of excellence and equity, and that commitment is embodied in all of its programs, services, activities, and concerns.
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