New Jersey Coalition for Diverse and Inclusive Schools Proposes”School Choice”

file photo by ArtChick

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ,  according to a report from the Ridgewood Board of Education , last May, the New Jersey Coalition for Diverse and Inclusive Schools sued New Jersey to desegregate our public schools.  Gary Stein, former NJ Supreme Court Justice, chairs this group.

Since the suit, the Coalition and the state have been in settlement talks. Eleven months later, the Coalition is frustrated by the lack of progress and is ready to go back to court.  They allege that the state’s school residency requirements are unconstitutional because these regulations lead to school segregation.

The Coalition is looking for a plan and action to integrate New Jersey’s public schools. 

Data shows that “nearly half of black and Hispanic students attend schools where at least 90 percent of those enrolled are students of color.”  The PARCC testing data underscores the significant gap among while, black and Hispanic students.

A joint legislative committee, chaired by Assemblywoman Mila Jasey and Senator Ron Rice, will be holding hearings to explore ways to integrate schools. 

Gary Stein identified some possible solutions including “expanding school choice using magnet schools and other methods that cross district boundary lines, changing admission policies of the highly competitive vocational academies to foster integration, and moving to countywide schools.”

For further information read NJ Spotlight article Group May Head Back to Court over Lack of NJ School Desegregation, by Colleen O’Dea, March 20, 2019.