Study: Charter Schools Increasing Racial Segregation in Classrooms

Study: Charter Schools Increasing Racial Segregation in Classrooms:

"Study: Charter Schools Increasing Racial Segregation in Classrooms

Encouraged by the Obama administration, efforts to expand the number of charter schools are being organized around the country. But concerns are being raised about the system. We speak to UCLA’s Civil Rights Project co-director Gary Orfield about a new study that suggests charter school growth is increasing classroom segregation."

Efforts to expand the number of charter schools are being organized around the country. In Virginia Republican Governor Robert McDonnell outlined a plan on Wednesday to increase the state’s cap on the publicly funded, privately run schools. In Mississippi, the state Senate passed a bill Tuesday to clear the way for charter schools. Here in New York City, the city’s Panel for Educational Policy recently approved closing 19 public schools at a time when Mayor Mike Bloomberg was pushing state legislators to lift the cap on charter schools.

Part of the push for new charter schools has come from the Obama administration. Under a new program called “Race to the Top,” states are competing for $4.3 billion in federal grants for reforming schools. States submitted applications for the money in January. The money will be doled out by Education Secretary Arne Duncan, a strong supporter of charter schools.

While the charter school movement is growing, some concerns are being raised about the system.

A new study by UCLA’s Civil Rights Project suggests charter school