Program Protects School Diversity in Gentrifying Neighborhoods

An article by Kyle Spencer examines the ideas behind a New York City Department of Education program "aimed at maintaining a racial and socio-economic balance at schools in fast-gentrifying neighborhoods."

"For the first time," reports Spencer, "the department is allowing a group of principals to set aside a percentage of seats for low-income families, English-language learners or students engaged with the child welfare system as a means of creating greater diversity within their schools."

The article includes a lot of anecdotal evidence from schools participating in the program around New York, along with mentions of the academic research behind the program. The ideas behind the program also recently gained traction  at the national level, according to Spencer, when last week "President Obama put his support behind that research when he announced his budget would include a $120 million grant program for school integration initiatives that seek to deconcentrate poverty."