Louisville, Ky. (AP) Students' ethnicity and socioeconomic status as well as race are among the factors the Jefferson County Board of Education agreed Monday to include in developing its next student assignment plan.
The U.S. Supreme Court in June barred the district from assigning students to schools based on race.
"We want to look at diversity in a much broader light so that it will maximize the educational benefits for all students," Superintendent Sheldon Berman told The Courier-Journal. "We will still look at race, and race will still be a major factor, but it will not be the only factor."
Besides diversity, the "guiding principles" that the board adopted include enhanced quality of the instructional program; families choice; predictability so that families understand the choices and the assignment process; student stability to provide connection to the school staff, peers and the school's social and academic community; and equitable access to programs and resources.
The board voted unanimously to approve the principles.
The district will next develop a methodology to propose several plans that will be brought before the public.
Developing the proposals will be "hard work and will take a little time," Berman said.
School district officials have said a new assignment plan should be in place by the 2009-10 school year.
This from Education Week.
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