6-92 CM

6-92 CM. Three numbers and two letters that were argued in the US Supreme Court this past week. Well...not exactly these three numbers and two letters, but ones just like them.

The question of the day is whether or not race should be a factor in a public school selection process...as is done in Louisville or Seattle. The answer, at least from me, is no.

I recognize that neighborhood schools can face funding challenges, and aren't always as diverse as one would like. But social-reengineering to obtain diversity isn't any kind of answer either. Diversity engineering mimics nothing in the real world save an ideal thought of "how society should be". The reality is far different.

Here are some facts (rather than opinion...for a moment)

• Jefferson County Public Schools (Louisville) is one of the largest school districts in the nation serving over 98,000 students in 89 elementary, 24 middle, 22 high, 22 other learning centers.
• Funding is provided equally at the Elemenatry Level, at the Middle School Level, and at the High School Level.
• Elementary Schools are divided into three-school clusters. One that is in "your" neighborhood, two that are in other locations in the city. ("Your" = within 5 miles or so).
• Middle Schools are divided as Magnet, and Resides Schools (meaning "your" neighborhood..this time up to 10 miles away).
• High Schools are divided as Magnet, and Resides Schools (meaning "your" neighborhood, within 6 miles)
• No school may exceed the 49.5% African-American Student population. (This is the only racial "guideline" that is published, but all schools must maintain a ratio of diversity that is non-published0
• School "dividing" lines have little to do with where you live, as the lines are structured to ensure racial and socioeconomic diversity. (For example, where we live, there is a middle school that is 1.5 miles away, two middle schools within 5 miles, and our "resides" school is 8.7 miles away).

In JCPS, the reality is, that no longer do two or three schools face funding challenges, all schools face funding challenges. Funds are routinely diverted from education purposes to allow for social training (ie: "how to deal with others not like you", handling gang activity, handling racial tensions, fee waivers, etc.). Further, over 75% of the schools are Title I schools, obtaining additional funding for assisting disadvantaged students. Finally all schools, but 3, are currently under the No Child Left Behind sanction/restriction program. (From Elementary to High)

So how do you solve it? Head back to a neighborhood system. Why?

• Under the neighborhood ("True" neighborhood) way of assigning students, each school would still receive the same amount per student. Many of the schools would no longer need to place such a high dollar amount on social issues, as many of the struggles that arise daily in all schools, would be negated; children would be attending schools with those from their socio-economic class (lower, middle, upper), and alleviating much of the have/have not challenges faced.
  
• Most schools (save 4-5) would remain diverse across racial and gender backgroups...those 4-5 would be predominantly caucasion (2) or predominantly african-american (3-4). Parents would (and do!) become more active in their children's schools, as they are able to attend functions at the schools closest to their home, and all of their children would attend the same series of schools. (At this time, even twins can be separated if a school is heavy on males, females, or a certain race. Children are often separated from siblings, especially in elementary school, making it difficult for parents to attend conferences, team parties, etc.)
  
• The Title 1 resources would become far more available to those schools truly falling into the guidelines. No longer would resource teachers be stretched across the multitude of schools they currently serve; approximately 15 schools would qualify as Title 1 and the resources could and would be maximized at those schools.

JCPS often says that parents have school choice for their children in the district. The reality is, that many parents try to make this choice, and are denied based on gender or race. JCPS is "quick" to point out that most parents get one of their top three choices when choosing an elementary school.....interesting when you only have "three choices" in your cluster..and you must stay within your cluster. I know from personal experience, that many "choices" are denied, due to "racial and gender quotas having been met at the school of your choice". When challenged about the "choice issue", Pat Todd, Director of JCPS Student Services, told one parent succinctly "You do have a choice, you can send your child to private school". Who was this parent? Me, when I asked why our son's middle school was almost 10 miles away from his home, while three schools (where he was denied admittance based on race and gender) were within 5. I challenged her to tell me where my "choice" was.

Interestingly enough, the Metro Area has over 50 private schools, all with a minimum of 150 students. Quite a large number for a town this size....and quite a large number of parents who made the "choice" outside of JCPS.

Here's hoping that the Supreme Court weighs their case carefully....there are 98,000+ students in the balance.....all wanting one thing....an education, not an experiment.

Finally, back to 6-92 CM. So what does that mean? JCPS believed that it was the only identifier needed for our eldest. June 92, Caucasian Male. I'm not sure they ever even knew his name.

(Side note..the Cadet is now in a truly diverse school..believe it or not. The racial and gender mixes are there, the socio-economic backgrounds are diverse, and the kids actually learn....because it was natural diversity, not engineered)