file photo of RHS
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Efforts to resolve a landmark lawsuit over segregation in New Jersey’s public schools through mediation have failed, pushing the case toward a high-stakes trial. The lawsuit, originally filed in 2018 by a coalition including the Latino Action Network, NAACP, and other advocates, argues that the state’s current school district system exacerbates segregation, despite laws prohibiting the practice.
Why This Lawsuit Matters
The lawsuit challenges the long-standing practice of assigning students to schools based on their ZIP codes, which plaintiffs argue has created and maintained racial and economic disparities in New Jersey’s public education system. The case could lead to significant changes in how schools are structured across the state.
- New Jersey has over 600 school districts, many reflecting the demographics of their local communities.
- Plaintiffs claim that low-income Black and Latino students suffer the most from “de facto” segregation.
- The lawsuit seeks to establish statewide policies promoting school integration.
Failed Mediation & Next Steps
The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office and plaintiffs entered confidential mediation in November 2023, overseen by retired state Supreme Court Justice Barry Albin. However, after multiple extensions, discussions failed to produce a resolution.
“We are disappointed that an agreement could not be reached to settle the litigation in a manner that is consistent with these objectives,” plaintiffs’ attorneys said.
Governor Phil Murphy’s administration called the failure of mediation “unfortunate” but reaffirmed its commitment to equitable education.
“The state remains steadfast in its efforts to provide the most robust educational opportunities possible for all students and continues to be open to reaching a mutual resolution of the matter,” the administration said.
Federal Uncertainty Adds New Challenges
Adding further complexity, the Trump administration recently announced plans to withdraw federal funding from schools and colleges that fail to immediately end diversity-related programming.
- On February 14, the federal government issued a directive requiring educational institutions to eliminate race-based policies within two weeks.
- This move has raised concerns about funding for programs aimed at reducing segregation.
“There’s a lot of unknown variables with regard to what the feds are going to do,” said Javier Robles, executive director of the Latino Action Network. “We don’t know if the Trump administration has the authority to do this.”
Court Ruling & the Future of the Case
In October 2023, Superior Court Judge Robert Lougy ruled in LAN v. New Jersey that the state had failed to address school segregation but did not declare the practice illegal or mandate specific policy changes.
With mediation talks now officially collapsed, the lawsuit will proceed to trial, where both sides will argue their case in court.
What’s at Stake?
If the plaintiffs win, New Jersey could see major reforms in school districting and student assignments, potentially reshaping education for hundreds of thousands of students. Advocates believe desegregating schools would lead to:
✅ More equitable educational resources
✅ Improved opportunities for low-income students
✅ A school system that better reflects New Jersey’s diversity
“Our schools should reflect the diversity of New Jersey’s population,” said Vivian Cox Fraser, president of the Urban League of Essex County.
Final Thoughts
With the trial ahead and federal policies in flux, the fight for integrated schools in New Jersey is far from over. The outcome of this case could set a national precedent for how states address racial and economic segregation in education.
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Why shouldn’t kids attend school in the town in which they live? Ridiculous to require kids to be bused in or out of their zip codes. How about improving the school systems that need the most help rather than busing the kids out of town and leaving the school system they are being bused out of in its current condition? Fix the failing school systems. Sheer stupidity.
too late “public education” is long over with
yes there is no fixing stupid, public schools have failed time to move on
my kids are going to private school where they will actually learn instead of being indoctrinated with some woke liberal agenda
Unfortunately not everyone can afford a private school.
lots of options since Al Gore discovered the Internet
They could if vouchers were issued.
Inner city parents should home school their children!
What if they’re not well educated themselves?
The world needs ditch diggers too! “Judge Smails”
Just take down that rainbow flag on government buildings. You could put that flag up in front of your house. That’s the only place it belongs. No other flags belong on government buildings or government sites that bullshit is done.
Just another form of redistribution of wealth, promotion of the welfare state and erosion of the American Ideal which states “success is based on individual effort”
Misleading to show a photo of RHS when this is a statewide lawsuit.
Stop voting Democrat. Especially in New Jersey. We’re mirroring California in the level of public spending and driving people/wealth out of the state.