Citations
- 188 F. Supp. 2d 944
Full opinion text
ORDER
McDADE, Chief Judge.
Before the Court is the parties’ Joint Motion for Approval of the Proposed Second Revised Consent Decree [Doc. # 41]. Having conducted a fairness hearing in accordance with Rule 23(e) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure on November 13, 2001, and in consideration of the evidence adduced at that hearing comprising several hundred pages of documents and affidavits, the written and oral objections of several third parties, and having reviewed the pleadings in this case, the Court finds that the Proposed Second Revised Consent Decree is fair, reasonable, and adequate to the class. The Court further finds that the Proposed Second Revised Consent Decree meets all applicable legal standards for the entry of consent decrees in general and desegregation consent remedies in particular. The Court makes the following findings of fact and conclusions of law and approves the Proposed Second Revised Consent Decree for the reasons discussed infra.
FINDINGS OF FACT
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
This action arises pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for the deprivation of Plaintiffs’ rights under the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 codified as 42 U.S.C. § 2000(d), the regulations promulgated under the authority of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 34 C.F.R. § 100.3 et seq., 42 U.S.C. § 1981, and the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution of the State of Illinois. This Court has jurisdiction to hear the claims under 28 U.S.C. § 1331, 28 U.S.C. § 1343(3), and 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201, 2202.
The individual Plaintiffs in this case are African-American public school students of Unit 4 Champaign Illinois School District.
Defendant, Board of Education Cham-paign Community Unit School District # 4 (“Unit 4” or “District”), is a body politic and school district of the State of Illinois organized and operating in Champaign County. The Board of Education is charged with and responsible for the operation of the public schools within the District.
In May and July 1996, several African-American famihes initiated complaints with the United States Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”), alleging race discrimination by Unit 4 schools. In October 1996, the law firm of Futterman & Howard, Chtd., on behalf of African-American students, amended the OCR complaints to include additional allegations of discrimination. CCM ¶¶ 2-3, Bates No. 1.
The initial complaints addressed student assignment and educational services provided to approximately 550 mandatorily bused African-Anerican students. CCM ¶ 2, Bates No. 1.
The amended OCR complaints added four other issues: system wide discrimination in student assignment, within-school segregation practices and tracking, discipline, and staff hiring and assignment. EEM n. 2, Bates No. 12.
In September 1996, OCR initiated a proactive compliance review of Unit 4 to investigate the over-representation of minorities in special education and the under-representation of minorities in upper level courses. OCR also included the areas identified in the parents’ complaints as part of their investigation. CCM ¶ 3, Bates No. 1; OCR 1, Bates No. 25.
Following a period of study and community input, the Board of Education of Unit 4 in November 1996 established a redistricting plan (“Redistricting Plan”). CCM ¶ 5, Bates No. 2.
Plaintiffs asserted that the Redistricting Plan did not reduce the disparate impact of educational practices, nor fully resolve their complaints, and that the Unit 4 student assignment system required additional modification to ensure diversity and educational equity. CCM ¶ 6, Bates No. 2.
Accordingly, in or around May 1997, Plaintiffs notified Unit 4 that they were contemplating the commencement of class action litigation against the District challenging, among other things, the student assignment methods used in 1968-97 and the Redistricting Plan. CCM ¶ 6, Bates No. 2.
On September 16, 1997, Unit 4 and Plaintiffs entered into an agreement, memorialized as the Champaign Controlled Choice Plan Memorandum of Understanding (the “Controlled Choice Memorandum”), which established a comprehensive plan and program for addressing Plaintiffs’ complaints as to the assignment of African-American students among Unit 4 schools. CCM, Bates Nos. 1-11.
In June 1998, the District completed a comprehensive educational equity audit (“Education Equity Audit”) with the assistance of Dr. Robert Peterkin and James Lucey to evaluate the performance of Unit 4 schools. EEA, Bates Nos. 68-162.
On June 15, 1998, the District entered into a Resolution Agreement with OCR resolving both the OCR proactive investigation and the Complaints filed by the African-American families. OCR, Bates. Nos. 25-62.
On July 6, 1998, Unit 4 and Plaintiffs entered into an agreement, memorialized as the Memorandum of Understanding of Civil Rights Issues Relating to Education Equity (the “Education Equity Memorandum”), which established a comprehensive plan and program for addressing certain additional complaints of Plaintiffs regarding alleged inequitable treatment of African-American students in Unit 4 schools. EEM, Bates Nos. 12-24.
In June 2000, Unit 4 adopted an Education Equity Implementation Plan (“Implementation Plan”), which included timetables and goals to fulfil the Controlled Choice, Equity, and OCR Resolution Agreements. IP, Bates Nos. 163-83.
At the time the OCR complaints were filed, the African-American parents and later Futterman & Howard, were aided in their efforts by the association “Of the People” (OTP), a predecessor of the association “Racial Justice Now” (RJN).
“[A] dispute arose,” however, between OTP and Plaintiffs’ counsel regarding implementation of the Controlled Choice Plan. 8/16/01 Ct. Order at 2. Thereafter, OTP became RJN. On July 28, 2000, RJN filed a school desegregation case against the School District. Plaintiffs then filed the instant action on October 4, 2000, and simultaneously with the filing of the complaint, submitted the Plaintiffs’ and Defendant’s Joint Motion for Approval of Consent Decree. Basically, the proposed Consent Decree adopts and incorporates the Controlled Choice Memorandum, the Resolution Agreement with OCR, and the Education Equity Memorandum and Implementation Plan.
RJN sought to intervene in the present case, alleging collusion between Plaintiffs and Defendant School District. The Court on August 16, 2001, denied the motion, finding that RJN had failed to allege sufficient facts to support its charge of collusion. 8/16/01 Ct. Order at 11.
On August 22, 2001, this Court certified the named Plaintiffs in the Johnson case as class representatives and approved Fut-terman & Howard as class counsel. 8/22/01 Ct. Order.
After proper public notice of the fairness hearing on the parties’ joint motion for approval of the consent decree, written objections to the consent decree were received by the Court. See Public Notice, Tab 2 of the Proposed Consent Decree filed 10/15/01.
On November 13, 2001, the Court held a fairness hearing. The parties presented documentary evidence and affidavits in support of or in opposition to the proposed consent decree, and each supplemented the joint presentation with their own additional comments and evidence. In addition, oral objections were heard by the Court by all interested persons wishing to make such objections.
AGREEMENTS UNDERLYING THE CONSENT DECREE
A. The Controlled Choice Plan
On September 16, 1997, the parties agreed to implement the Controlled Choice Plan which:
1. Guarantees racial diversity, provides individual choice regarding school enrollment within racial fairness guidelines, and promotes school reform CCM ¶ 9a, Bates No. 3.
2. Ensures equitable access and burdens by allocating the District’s total basic school capacity to each part of the city in proportion to the number of students that reside there. CCM ¶ 9f, Bates No. 3.
3. Provides educational opportunities for individual students by permitting each student to choose, from a number of schools in the system, two or more schools that the student desires to attend, and to rank the schools by personal preference. CCM ¶ 9g, Bates No. 3.
4. Contains a flexibility range of a maximum of plus or minus 15% of those system-wide racial compositions to accommodate schools which are over-chosen by one group and under-chosen by another. The over-choosing group may exceed its fair share proportion within this range. System-wide racial composition and the applicable flexibility range shall be determined independently for elementary, middle, and high schools. CCM ¶ 9j, Bates No. 4.
5. May contain a sibling preference which provides a first preference, within racial fairness guidelines, to all students who have a brother or sister already attending the student’s school of choice. CCMf 9m, Bates No. 4.
6. Contains a neighborhood preference which provides a preference within racial fairness guidelines to students who can walk to their chosen school. CCM ¶ 9n, Bates No. 4.
7. Creates one or more Parent Information Centers (“PIC”) with sufficient resources to perform the day-to-day operations of the Plan and provide outreach, information, and advocacy to parents. The PIC(s) shall be located and conducted in a manner which maximizes minority parent participation in the Controlled Choice Process. CCM ¶ 9o, Bates No. 4-5.
8. Requires all eligible students to fill out an application indicating a minimum of two schools of choice. Every effort will be made to insure that minority students are aware of and participate in the application process. CCM ¶ 9p, Bates No. 5.
9. Addresses over-chosen schools by conducting a lottery after all students with preferences who meet the racial fairness guidelines have been assigned. CCM ¶ 9q, Bates No. 5.
10. Identifies, publicly lists, and provides technical assistance, and if necessary, changes in personnel in under-chosen schools. The purpose of these actions is to upgrade and improve the quality of education received in under-chosen schools. CCM ¶ 9aa, Bates No. 6.
11. Established a community-based Controlled Choice Community Task Force to assist in developing and implementing the Controlled Choice Plan. The Task Force represents the District’s racial, economic, civic, governmental, business, and other major constituencies. CCM ¶ 12, Bates No. 7.
The parties formed a Planning and Implementation Committee (“PIC”) comprised of an equal number of representatives of each party, including counsel. Throughout the Plan’s duration, PIC will continue to monitor, evaluate, refine, and improve the Controlled Choice Plan. CCM ¶ 15, Bates Nos. 7-8.
In the 1998-99 school year, Controlled Choice was implemented at the Kindergarten level in all 11 elementary schools, and is phased in by grade each year thereafter:
School Year Grades Affected
1998-99_Kindergarten
1999-2000_K, first grade
2000-01_K, 1,2_
2001-02_K, 1-3_
2002-03_K, 1-4_
2003-04_K, 1-5
CCM ¶ 10a, Bates No. 6.
B. OCR Resolution Agreement
To resolve the Complaints filed by African-American parents in May and July 1996 and the proactive review initiated by OCR in September 1996, OCR and the District reached an agreement as to the appropriate actions to be taken by the District to further its commitments to ensure that minority students are provided equal access to high standards and a high quality education in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq., and its implementing regulation at 34 C.F.R. Part 100. OCR 1, Bates No. 25.
To demonstrate its compliance with the OCR requirements, the District agreed to submit annual status reports regarding its implementation of the resolution to OCR. The last annual report is to be submitted' to OCR by the District in August 2002.-OCR, however, may require reports after August 2002 to the extent that any portion of the resolution is not fully implemented. OCR 37, Bates No. 61.
The OCR resolution includes the following principles and goals:
1. Students, regardless of race or national origin, must be provided access to high quality curriculum which enables students to achieve high standards;
2. A school climate which promotes learning and success and encourages students to support each other; and
3. Development of a diverse staff that will assist in a positive and supportive learning environment for all students. OCR 1, Bates No. 25.
The OCR resolution also includes specific goals and implementation timetables for gifted and upper level courses, discipline, special education, alternative programs, staff hiring, and within-sehool segregation. These specific elements of the OCR Resolution were incorporated into the Implementation Plan for the Equity Agreement. IP, Bates Nos. 163-183.
C. Education Equity Agreements
On July 6, 1998, the District voluntarily entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (“Education Equity Memorandum”) to address educational equity issues. In doing so, the District acknowledged data reflecting disparity between white and African-American students in the District, and sought to improve access and equity in areas cited by Plaintiffs. EEM 1, Bates No. 12.
The Education Equity Memorandum was intended to address elimination of unwarranted disparities with respect to both the availability of educational services to African-American students, and also the participation and performance of African-American students in such services. EEM ¶ 2B, Bates No. 14.
The Education Equity Memorandum includes the following standards:
1. A standard for participation of African-American students in each of the regular programs, courses, classes and extracurricular activities. EEM ¶ 5A, Bates No. 17.
2. Standards for reasonably and practicably comparable educational outcomes for African-American and non-African-American students with respect to attendance, grades, standardized achievement scores, alternative assessment scores, discipline rates, and dropout/graduation rates. EEM ¶ 5B, Bates No. 17.
3. Standards for comprehensive, supplemental educational and social support to African-American students as needed to achieve and maintain the performance standards identified in the Equity Memorandum. EEM ¶ 5C, Bates No. 17.
4. Standards to eliminate to the greatest extent practicable any over-representation of minority students in subjective special education categories. The District bears the burden of demonstrating that any such over-representation is clearly justified by the application and outcome of valid, nondiseriminatory special education assessment and placement practices. EEM ¶ 5D, Bates No. 17.
5. Noting the special relationship between discipline and school climate, standards in each area, including systemwide comprehensive multicultural initiatives and staff development programs regarding equitable discipline. EEM ¶ 5E, Bates No. 17.
6. Standards to achieve a substantial level of racial diversity among the District’s certified and noncertified staff members systemwide and within individual schools, focusing on recruitment, hiring, assignment and transfer standards. EEM ¶ 5F, Bates No. 18.
The PIC was designated to monitor, evaluate, refine and improve the Education Equity Memorandum. EEM ¶ 3, Bates No. 15.
In June 2000, the District adopted an Education Equity Implementation Plan (“Implementation Plan”) to cohesively implement the Controlled Choice, Education Equity and OCR Resolution Agreements. IP i, Bates No. 165.
The purpose of the Plan was to set forth a comprehensive framework for improving the District’s educational programs and opportunities in order to “close the achievement gap” between minority and non-minority students. IP i, Bates No. 165.
The Plan identified objectives, established flexible goals and enumerated actions to be performed by the District in the following areas: (1) climate and discipline; (2) special education; (3) gifted education; (4) student performance; (5) Columbia Center and alternative programs; and (6) hiring and staff placement and retention. IP, Bates Nos. 164-183.
The PIC developed the Implementation Plan and the Board of Education adopted it in June 2000. EEA Update 3, Bates No. 350.
INVOLVEMENT OF EXPERTS IN THIS CASE
Since Plaintiffs began negotiations with the District in 1997, several experts have been involved in analyzing data and developing remedies: Dr. Robert Peterkin, Dr. Michael Alves, and James Lucey. These experts are experienced in school equity issues and have testified or participated in numerous school' desegregation cases or have worked extensively with school districts addressing issues of race and equity.
A. Dr. Robert Peterkin
Dr. Peterkin currently serves as the Keppel Senior Lecturer on Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education; Chair of Programs in Administration, Planning and Social Policy at the Harvard Graduate School of Education; Director of the Urban Superintendents Program at Harvard University; and as President of the Peterkin Consulting Group. Peterkin 1st Aff ¶ 1, Bates No. A9.
Dr. Peterkin has received numerous awards, participates in numerous professional and community organizations, has published numerous book chapters, articles, papers and reports on educational equity issues, and has been a featured speaker at more than 55 presentations during the last decade to address leadership and educational equity. Peterkin 1st Aff ¶ 2-3, Bates Nos. A9-A10.
Dr. Peterkin has focused his entire career on urban education, with an emphasis on school restructuring, development of school programs for children isolated by poverty, gender or race, and advocacy for equitable school choice. Peterkin 1st Aff ¶ 4, Bates No. A10.
Dr. Peterkin has served as a consultant and expert witness on federal school desegregation cases across the country. Pe-terkin 1st Aff ¶ 5, Bates No. A10.
In 1997, Unit 4 retained Dr. Peterkin, with assistance from James Lucey, to conduct a comprehensive examination of the District, evaluate the ability of all students to share equitably in the educational opportunities offered, and to make recommendations to the Board to improve and ensure equity. Peterkin 1st Aff ¶ 6, Bates No. A10.
Between July 1997 and June 1998, Dr. Peterkin engaged in extensive data collection and analysis, evaluating all components of the District’s educational community, detailed in the Educational Equity Audit. Peterkin 1st Aff ¶ 7, Bates No. A10.
From 1998 to June 2000, Dr. Peterkin continued to conduct various reports and assist the District in developing plans to ensure educational equity. Peterkin 1st Aff ¶ 8, Bates No. All.
Dr. Peterkin has reviewed the Proposed Consent Decree and has no specific objections to its provisions. Dr. Peterkin generally supports and recommends the provisions contained within the Decree. Peterkin 2nd Aff ¶¶ 2-4, Bates No. A12.
Dr. Peterkin believes that, as set forth in the Decree and the underlying agreements between the parties, the parties have developed a comprehensive program and process to further educational equity for African-American students in Cham-paign public schools that includes, but is not limited to, involving the community, enhancing student assignment desegregation, furthering educational equity, utilizing the PIC, continuing the collaborative working relationship among counsel for Plaintiffs and the District, and designing provisions to monitor the District’s progress toward its goals. Peterkin 2nd Aff ¶ 5, Bates No. A13.
It is Dr. Peterkin’s opinion, based on his extensive experience with school desegregation, that the program and process set forth in the Decree increases the probability of success in meeting the Decree’s goals. Peterkin 2nd Aff ¶ 6, Bates No. A13.
Dr. Peterkin believes that when, as in this case, both parties voluntarily commit to racial equity initiatives, the likelihood of success in meeting the goals of the Decree increases. Peterkin 2nd Aff ¶ 7, Bates No. A13.
B. Dr. Michael Alves
Dr. Michael Alves is the Senior Educational Planner and Equity Specialist for the Education Alliance and Equity Assistance Center at Brown University. He is also President of the Alves Educational Consultants Group, Ltd. Alves Aff ¶ 1, Bates No. Al.
Dr. Alves has served as a high school teacher, Project Director for State Desegregation Assistance Programs, and Director of the Federal Title IV Civil Rights Act Unit for the Bureau of Equal Educational Opportunity, Office of the Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Education. Alves Aff ¶ 2, Bates No. Al.
Dr. Alves has extensive experience as an educational consultant and desegregation planner specializing in the design, implementation, and monitoring of “controlled choice” student assignment and school improvement plans. Alves Aff ¶ 3, Bates No. Al.
Dr. Alves has worked on controlled choice plans in more than 27 school districts across the country, including cases where he was retained as an expert witness and controlled choice planner in federal desegregation lawsuits. Alves Aff ¶ 4, Bates No. A2.
Dr. Alves has served as a desegregation planner and consultant to various federal education agencies and national and local civil rights organizations, including the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and others. Alves Aff ¶ 5, Bates No. A2.
Dr. Alves has also served as a policy-analyst and advisor on school choice, school desegregation and urban education issues to the National Governor’s Association, National School Boards Association, National Education Association, and State Departments of Education (including Illinois); served as a member of the President’s National Commission on Children, Implementation Committee on Increasing Educational Achievement; and published more than 47 books, articles, papers and reports on controlled choice and desegregation. Alves Aff ¶¶ 6-7, Bates No. A2.
In 1998, Unit 4 retained Dr. Alves as a controlled choice and student assignment planning expert to develop and implement, with Dr. Robert Peterkin, a Controlled Choice Plan for the District’s elementary schools (grades K-5). Alves Aff ¶ 8, Bates No. A2.
Since the 1997-1998 school year, Dr. Alves has advised the District on its implementation of the Controlled Choice Plan in its elementary schools. Alves Aff ¶ 9, Bates No. A3.
C. James Lucey
James Lucey is the Principal Consultant at Lucey Consulting, where he serves as an independent consultant, primarily involved in public school district federal desegregation cases. Lucey Aff ¶ 1, Bates No. A7.
Mr. Lucey has 15 years of previous teaching and administrative experience in local school systems and in state youth service agencies, as well as more than 11 years of previous experience in various Information Technology and Financial Management positions in the private sector. Lucey Aff ¶¶ 2-3, Bates No. A7.
Mr. Lucey has focused his career on data analysis. His area of emphasis is school desegregation cases in which he conducts extensive data analyses, prepares the results, and presents his findings to educational decision-makers, senior organizational staff, politicians, and the courts. Lucey Aff ¶ 4, Bates No. A7.
Mr. Lucey has served as a consultant on federal school desegregation to a number of school districts across the country. Lu-cey Aff ¶ 5, Bates No. A7.
Unit 4 retained Mr. Lucey in 1997 to conduct a comprehensive examination of the District, evaluate the ability of all students to share equitably in the educational opportunities offered, make recommendations to the Board of Education to improve and ensure equity, and to otherwise assist consultant Dr. Robert Peterkin. Lucey Aff ¶ 6, Bates No. A7.
Between July 1997 and June 1998 Mr. Lucey engaged in extensive data collection and analysis, evaluating all components of the District’s educational community, detailed in the Educational Equity Audit. Lucey Aff ¶ 7, Bates No. A7.
Since 1997, Mr. Lucey has continued to conduct various reports and assist the District in developing plans to ensure educational equity. Lucey Aff ¶ 8, Bates No. A7.
CONDITIONS IN THE DISTRICT
A. Student Assignment
1. Seat Capacity as of the 1996-97 School Year
In the 1996-97 school year there were 10 elementary schools in the District. Four were located in the north side of the District and six were located in the south, with University Avenue defining the distinction between north and south Cham-paign:
North Side South Side
Columbia Bottenfield
Booker T. Washington Carrie Busey
Garden Hills Kenwood
Dr. Howard Robeson South Side Westview
Alves 2nd Report 5, Bates No. 343.
Dr. Michael Alves, whom the District retained to conduct the initial audit of the Champaign School District, determined the following with respect to seat capacity in Champaign:
Capacity K-5 Resident Resident
Geographic No. of of Student Utilization
Location_Strands_Students_Population_Rate_
North_11_y>86_1^812_114.3%
South_18_2£90_2^21_93.5%
Alves 2nd Report 6, Bates No. 344.
Overall the District’s total resident utilization rate for elementary schools was 101.4%. Alves 2nd Report 6, Bates No. 344. Students living in the north were being structurally displaced and assigned to south side schools in the 1996-97 school year. For example, if all the students who resided in the north wanted to attend schools in the north, 227 would not have been able to. All south side students would have been able to attend their area schools. Alves 2nd Report 6, Bates No. 344. See chart below.
1996-97 STRUCTURAL DISPLACEMENT
Shortfall/ Student Utilization Excess
_Population_Capacity_Strands_Rate_Capacity
South Side_2^21_2,590_18_93.5%_+ 169
North Side_1,812 1,585_11_114.3%_- 227
This information indicates that the District needed to increase elementary capacity in both areas of the District. See Alves 2nd Report 6, Bates No. 344 and Alves 2nd Report 9, Bates No. 347.
77.1% of African-Americans resided in the north side and 22.9% resided in the south side. Therefore, according to Dr. Alves, the data strongly suggests that the structural displacement of north side students may have been a major contributing factor to the disproportionate transportation of some 546 African-American students in the 1996-97 school year. Alves 2nd Report 6, 8, Bates Nos. 344, 346.
2. Seat Capacity as of the 2001-02 School Year
As of the 2001-02 school year, the District has 11 elementary schools, one more than it had in the 1996-97 school year:
North Side South Side
Stratton Barkstall
Booker T. Washington Bottenfield
Garden Hills Carrie Busey
Dr. Howard Kenwood Robeson South Side Westview
Alves 2nd Report 7, Bates No. 345.
Dr. Alves determined the following with respect to seat capacity:
Capacity K-5 Resident Resident
Geographic No. of of Student Utilization
Location_Strands _Students_Population_Rate
North_12_L656_1//45_105.4%
South_21_2,898_2,448_84.5%
Alves 2nd Report 7, Bates No. 345.
Thus, according to Dr. Alves, there continues to be a shortage of seats on the north side. See chart below.
2001-02 STRUCTURAL DISPLACEMENT
Shortfall/ Student Utilization Excess
_Population Capacity Strands_Rate_Capacity
South Side_2,448_2,898_21_84.5%_+ 450
North Side_1,745_1,656_12_105.4%_- 89
Alves 2nd Report 7, Bates No. 345.
The level of structural displacement in the District varies depending on what utilization rate is adopted.
Utilization Rate Seats Needed
100 % 89
92.1% (Current District Rate) 227
84.5% (South Side Rate) 346
Alves 2nd Report 7, Bates No.345
According to Dr. Alves, the north side still has the capacity shortage equivalent to at least two enrollment strands or approximately 276 seats. Alves 2nd Report 7, Bates No. 345.
After review of these issues, Dr. Alves strongly recommended that the District consider the feasibility of adding at least two enrollment strands in the north side by expanding Booker T. Washington School facility. Currently, Booker T. Washington is only a two-strand school with a maximum capacity of only 276. Moreover, it is the only two-strand school in the North Side and it is located within one of the most densely populated areas of the District. Alves 2nd Report 8, Bates No. 846.
3. Seat Capacity Based on April 2001 Kindergarten Controlled Choice Lottery
Preliminarily, based on information from the April 12, 2001 Kindergarten (“K”) Controlled Choice Lottery, the following chart shows: (1) the number of kindergarten seats; (2) the number of students who applied for early K assignments and who resided within the 1.5 mile “proximity A” area of each school; and (3) each school’s resident kindergarten utilization rate and average kindergarten class size if all proximity A applicants had been assigned to that school.
Early Applicants Resident K Kindergarten Who Resided in Utilization School_Seats_Proximity A_Rate_
Stratton_69_124_180%
Washington_46_66_143%
Garden Hills_69_63_91%
Barkstall_69_31_45%
Alves 1st Report 2-3, Bates Nos. 334-35.
The racial composition of the proximity A students in each school was:
School_African-Americans Non-AMcan-Americans
Stratton_59.7%_40.3%_
Washington_72.7%_27.3%_
Garden Hills_54 %_46 %_
Barkstall_6.5%93.5%
Alves 1st Report 2-4, Bates Nos. 334-336.
Only 21% of the proximity A students selected Stratton as their first-choice school. All were assigned to Stratton, including 21 African-Americans. Only 2 (or 6%) of the 34 white students in Stratton’s proximity A selected Stratton as their first choice. Alves 1st Report 2, Bates No. 334.
Only 17% of the proximity A students selected Washington as their first-choice school. All were assigned to that school. None of the white students who resided in walking distance selected Washington as their first-choice school. This data suggests that Washington is not an especially attractive school for students who reside within walking distance of it. Alves 1st Report 2-3, Bates Nos. 334-35.
Only 35% of the proximity A students selected Garden Hills as their first-choice school. All were assigned to that school, including 13 African-Americans and 10 non-African-Americans. Alves 1st Report 3, Bates No. 335.
97% of the proximity A students selected Barkstall as their first choice school. All were assigned to that school. Alves 1st Report 3, Bates No. 335.
Dr. Alves’ conclusions from School Level Structural Displacement Analysis:
(1) Data suggests that Stratton and Washington do not have sufficient enrollment capacities to accommodate all elementary students who reside within their 1.5 mile proximity A areas, located within the predominately African-American section of the city. Alves 1st Report 4, Bates No. 336.
(2) Data also shows that neither Strat-ton nor Washington is attracting most of the students who reside within walking distance, and Garden Hills is having difficulty attracting resident students. Alves 1st Report 4, Bates No. 336.
(3) These schools, in the African-American community, north of University Avenue, are in sharp contrast to Barkstall, which has more than enough seats for its proximity A students and which is extremely attractive to parents who reside within walking distance. Alves 1st Report 4, Bates No. 336.
(4) Data clearly shows that African-American students have not been denied access to their proximity A school because of racial fairness guidelines. As a result of Controlled Choice and racial fairness guidelines, it appears that African-American and students from all other racial groups are attending schools of choice that they could otherwise not attend. Alves 1st Report 4, Bates No. 336.
(5) These findings strongly suggest that any facility use recommendations that may be necessary to alleviate the physical or structural displacement of students in the District’s more densely populated areas must also include recommendations for making schools like Stratton, Washington, and Garden Hills more attractive to the parents and students from diverse backgrounds who reside near these schools. Alves 1st Report 4, Bates No. 336.
B. Controlled Choice Kindergarten Enrollment in 2001-02
Early Kindergarten application for the 2001-02 school year took place during the month of March, 2001, and kindergarten assignments were made on April 12, 2001. Alves 1st Report, Memo intro, Bates No. 337.
A total of 514 students applied for early Kindergarten assignment for the 2001-02 school year. The ethnic breakdown of these 514 students includes 142 African-American (27.6%), 287 white (55.8%), 19 Hispanic (3.7%), 39 Asian (7.6%), 1 Native American (0.2%) and 26 other ethnic groups (5.1%). Alves 1st Report, Memo ¶ 1, Bates No. 337.
Application data was processed at the Family Information Center, using Controlled Choice Lottery software, and staff conducted multiple data accuracy and integrity tests on each student’s application. To the best of Dr. Alves’ knowledge, all assignments were processed in accordance with the District’s Controlled Choice policies and procedures and enrollment fairness guidelines. Alves 1st Report, Memo ¶¶ 2, 3, 9, Bates Nos. 337-38.
The Controlled Choice Lottery for the 514 Kindergarten applicants was conducted at the Family Information Center on April 12, 2001. 460 applicants (89.5%) were assigned to their firstehoice school; 33 (6.4%) were assigned to their second-choice school; 17 (3.3%) were assigned to their [third] choice school; and 4 (0.8%) did not receive an assignment to a school of choice. Overall, 99.2% of the Kindergarten applicants were assigned to a school of choice. Alves 1st Report, Memo ¶ 4, Bates No. 337.
The 54 students who did not receive their first-choice school, including the 4 unassigned students, were placed on a wait list for their first choice school. Alves 1st Report, Memo ¶ 5, Bates No. 338.
All 142 African-American applicants (100%) were assigned to their first choice school, and 318 non-African-American applicants (85.5%) were assigned to their first choice school. Alves 1st Report, Memo ¶ 6, Bates No. 338.
All 197 applicants (100%) that had a sibling priority were assigned to their first choice school. Alves 1st Report, Memo ¶ 7, Bates No. 338.
266 of the 267 proximity A students (99.6%) who reside within 1.5 miles of their first choice school were assigned to their first choice school. 20 of the proximity B (60.6%) who do not reside within 1.5 miles of any Champaign elementary school were assigned to their first-choice school. Alves 1st Report, Memo ¶ 8, Bates No. 338.
All late kindergarten applicants for the 2001-02 school year will be assigned by the Controlled Choice Walk-In software at the Family Information Center. Alves 1st Report, Memo ¶ 10, Bates No. 338.
C. Trends Comparing 1996-97 to 2001-02 Student Assignment Data
The racial composition of students residing in the north and south side has changed very little since the 1996-97 school year with 74.5% of the District’s African-American students still residing in the north side and 25.4% residing in the south side, a net change of 2.6%. Alves 2nd Report 8-9, Bates Nos. 346-7.
The District has made progress in reducing its elementary school utilization rate since the 1996-97 school year. Alves 2nd Report 8-9, Bates Nos. 346-7.
The construction of Barkstall Elementary School significantly affected the utilization rate in the south side by 9%. The opening of Stratton Elementary School has reduced the utilization rate in the north side by 8.9%. Overall, the construction of Barkstall and Stratton has added more elementary strands to the District and resulted in a net decrease of 9.3% in the district-wide utilization rate. Alves 2nd Report 8, Bates No. 346.
D. 1999 Controlled Choice Survey Indicates Positive Effects of Controlled Choice
In the summer of 1999, the District retained the Metro Chicago Information Center to conduct a survey of how parents choose schools for their children, their satisfaction with the first year of the Controlled Choice Plan, desired program enhancements, and other aspects of the plan. The survey included interviews with 387 parents, including 221 white parents and 131 African-American parents. CCS 2, Bates Nos. 589-590.
The Metro Chicago Information Center is an independent, nonprofit research organization founded in 1990 with the support of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the McCormick Tribune Foundation, the Chicago Community Trust, and the United Way/Crusade of Mercy of Chicago. CCS 3, Bates No. 591.
According to the survey, the most important reasons parents chose the schools that they did include: friendliness, openness, responsiveness of school staff; safety; school program (year round, magnet theme, arts/drama, language); quality of teachers; discipline, uniforms; quality of principal as educational leader or as disciplinarian; older sibling needs; experience of other family members, friends; and closeness to home, location. CCS 4, Bates No. 592.
Among white parents whose children attended schools other than Stratton, only 6% said they considered choosing Stratton. Increasing the diversity of enrollment at Stratton will require a full-scale strategy of program enhancement, transportation, the perception of increased discipline, and the perception of increased security. CCS 19, Bates No. 607.
By an extraordinarily high margin, parents were satisfied with their child’s kindergarten experience during the first year of Controlled Choice. CCS 21, Bates No. 609.
Parents had a high level of satisfaction with the schools choices that were available. 38% of African-Americans surveyed ranked their school choices as “excellent.” CCS 23, Bates No. 611. Seventy-seven percent (77%) of all parents believed the Controlled Choice Plan was administered fairly. CCS 29, Bates No. 617.
Although there were small areas of significant concern and racial tension, parents gave predominantly positive ratings to the climate of race relations in the schools. CCS 33, Bates No. 621.
EDUCATIONAL EQUITY
A. Climate and Discipline
1. Pre-Agreement Data
In 1996-97, discipline rates were higher for African-Americans than whites and other student groups. EEA 16, Bates No. 83.
District discipline policy called for pre-intervention processes prior to student disciplinary actions. While these processes appeared to be documented in individual student folders, no centralized effort was apparent to record, document, and analyze these pre-intervention steps. EEA 16, Bates No. 83.
In 1996-97, 303 students were given an out-of-school suspension. Of that number, African-Americans were overrepresented to a statistically significant degree at all levels. OCR 18, Bates No. 42.
At the elementary school level for the 1996-97 school year, African-American students represented almost 81% of the students given an out-of-school suspension. OCR 19, Bates No. 43.
At the middle school level for the 1996-97 school year, African-Americans represented almost 68 % of the students who were given an out-of-school suspension. OCR 19, Bates No. 43.
More than 12% of middle school African-Americans were given an out-of-school suspension. Less than 3% of white middle school students were given out-of-school suspension. OCR 19, Bates No. 43.
At the high-school level for the 1996-97 school year, African-Americans represented approximately 64% of the students who were given out-of-school suspensions. OCR 19, Bates No. 43.
More than 13% of high school African-Americans were given out-of-school suspensions. Less than 3% of white high-school students are given out-of-school suspensions. OCR 19, Bates No. 43.
During the 1997-98 school year, 63% of all suspensions were given to African-Americans, who comprised 32% of the student population. EEA 49, Bates No. 116.
2. District’s Actions Post-Agreement
a. The 2000 Climate Surveg
In 2000, the District retained Dr. Mark Aber at the University of Illinois at Champaign to conduct a Climate Study in accordance with the OCR Resolution Agreement. OCR 4-5, Bates Nos.28-29; Climate Study, Bates Nos. 379-545.
The results of the study revealed a curious pattern of findings related to how Unit 4 staff and parents think about race and culture. Climate Study 29, Bates No. 407.
Despite wide support for the notion of color-blind policies and practices, study results indicated that the majority of Unit 4 teachers believe that they and their colleagues demonstrate cultural understanding when teaching children of different backgrounds. These results exposed a limited perspective on cultural understanding and sensitivity on the part of some staff. Climate Study 29, Bates No. 407.
Because they did not see racial disparities and discipline in academic programs as unfair, most staff and parents did not see a significant need for the District to change its policies to better address issues of race. Climate Study 28, Bates No. 406.
Many whites believed that parents, economics, and/or society are to blame for the educational disparities between African-Americans and whites. Climate Study 32-34, Bates Nos. 410-12.
Consistent with their view of fairness, need for change and explanations for racial disparities, results indicated most white staff and parents did not view as very important the hiring of teachers and administrators to reflect the number of African-American students in Unit 4 schools. Climate Study 34-35, Bates Nos. 412-13.
The Survey indicated that many in the District are even afraid to talk about race issues. Climate Study 27, Bates No. 405.
There almost seemed to be a belief that the best way to deal with issues of race is to ignore the fact that people are of different races. Climate Study 27, Bates No. 405.
To the extent that this “color-blind” perspective led people to acknowledge African-American experiences and perceptions, many people, particularly African-American, saw this perspective as inherently demeaning and unfair. Climate Study 28, Bates No. 406.
The Survey reviewed the educational research on the effect of climate on student learning, including that:
(1) Perceived school climate is important to the health and well-being of school children. Climate Study 6, Bates No. 384.
(2) 'Negative school climate perceptions are associated with poor achievement, emotional problems, behavior difficulties, dropping out, absenteé- ■ ism and school dissatisfaction. Climate Study 6, Bates No. 384.
(3) Ignoring racial differences and perceptions of climate will further marginalize those with the most negative experiences and perceptions. Thus, corrective steps must be taken to address this. Climate Study 35, Bates No. 413.
(4) Minority students’ capacity to learn in school is greatly enhanced when teachers have a deep appreciation of their students’ racial, cultural, religious, and family backgrounds and experiences. Learning is inhibited when teachers do not have such understanding. Thus, an unintentional consequence of this “color blind” perspective is the interference with this understanding and damage to the students’ ability to learn. Climate Study 29, Bates No. 407.
(5) When an African-American student in Unit 4 observed a gross over-representation of African-American students in detention and special education, and a gross underrepresen-tation of African-American students in gifted and talented programs, he or she is very likely to interpret those numbers as having negative implications for himself or herself. Climate Study 35-36, Bates Nos. 413-14.
Dr. Aber recommended several actions. Climate Study 5, 36-37, Bates Nos. 383, 414-415.
(1) Increase cultural competence of teaching staff.
(2) Create school forums to discuss the climate study results and make recommendations to address issues raised by them.
(3) Hire more African-American regular classroom teachers.
(4) When hiring non-African-American teachers, develop selection criteria that value cultural competence.
(5) Develop incentives to reward teachers who teach students of diverse backgrounds well.
(6) Develop incentives for teachers to learn from colleagues who demonstrate success teaching students of diverse backgrounds well. These incentives should encourage inter-racial collaboration which will enable people to get to know one another by working closely together.
(7) Reduce and eventually eliminate all “ability based” tracking.
(8) Establish goals and strategies to reduce the overall number of disciplinary and special education referrals.
(9) Implement in-sehool educational programs for students focused on issues of races, culture and ethnicity.
Ultimately, to successfully address negative climate perceptions will require reduction or elimination of existing racial disparities. Climate Study 35, Bates No. 413.
In March 2001, in response to the Climate Study, the District proposed the following actions be taken:
(1) Hold community forums to continue discussing race-related issues;
(2) Conduct discussions with the district-wide Diversity Committee to address staff perceptions;
(3) Examine the curriculum to assure a strong multi-cultural component in all subjects;
(4) Continue training all staff on diversity issues and on how to achieve success with all students in a multicultural community; and
(5) Continue to emphasize Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity policies. CS Follow-Up 1, Bates No. 546.
In summer 2000, the District updated the Education Equity Audit and concluded that:
(1) In 1999-2000, African-Americans comprised 65% of all discipline referrals. EEAR Disc. 8, Bates No. 218.
(2) In 1999-2000, African-Americans comprised the following percentages of disciplinary suspensions and expulsions in elementary schools: 90.2% for insubordination; 84.6% for verbal abuse and threats; 82.4% for physical acts and disruption; 66.7% for substances; and 73.7% for other. EEAR Disc. 15, Bates No. 225.
(3) In 1999-2000, African-Americans comprised the following percentages of disciplinary suspensions and expulsions in middle schools: 96.7% for insubordination; 85.5% for verbal abuse and threats; 80.5% for physical acts and disruption; 90.0% for substances; and 85.0% for other. EEAR Disc. 15, Bates No. 225.
(4) In 1999-2000, African-Americans comprised the following percentages of disciplinary suspensions and expulsions in high schools: 74.6% for insubordination; 59.1% for verbal abuse and threats; 72.2% for physical acts and disruption; 61.2% for substances; and 76.5% for other. EEAR Disc. 15, Bates No. 225.
(5) The District has eliminated subjective categories for suspension in the Student Code of Conduct. EEAR Disc. 4, Bates No. 214.
(6) The Positive Behavior Intervention Strategies (PBIS) process has been implemented in all schools and focuses on positive and progressive alternatives, prior to using negative or punishment strategies. EEAR Disc. 4-5, Bates Nos. 214-15.
(7) The District expanded peer mediation programs in all elementary and high schools. EEAR Disc. 4, Bates No. 214.
(8) The District has implemented the “2nd Step Violence Prevention Program” in all elementary schools. EEAR Disc. 5, Bates No. 215.
(9) The District has implemented mentor programs in all buildings. EEAR Disc.2001-5, Bates No. 676.
(10) At the elementary and middle school levels, the District has adopted an In-school Alternative to Suspension program. EEAR Disc. 2001-6, Bates No. 677.
B. Special Education
1. Pre-Agreement Data
a.Special Education, generally
African-Americans were over-represented in special education programs. This serves to preclude access to regular education and advanced opportunities. Of particular note are a disproportionate number of African-American students in programs where human judgment may play a greater role than in programs with “hard” diagnostic criteria. EEA 16, Bates No. 83.
Between 1993-96, African-American students comprised 32% of the student population and 44 % of the special education population. EEA 40, Bates No. 107.
Between 1993 and 1996, 26% of African-Americans had special education needs as compared to 17% of white students and 8% of other racial group students. EEA 40, Bates No. 107.
b. Speech and Language
During the 1995-96 school year, the District had 880 students placed in special speech and language services excluding those students receiving speech and language services. African-American students represented 419, or 47.7%, of these students. OCR determined that African-American students were over-represented in the special education per room to a statistically significant degree. OCR 26, Bates No. 50.
c. Learning Disability
African-Americans were over-represented to a statistically significant degree in the category of Specific Learning Disability (“SLD”) -218 out of 518 or 42.1% during the 1995-96 school year. OCR 26, Bates No. 50.
Between 1993-96, African-Americans comprised 40% of SLD students and 32 % of the entire student population. EEA 42, Bates No. 109.
Between 1993 and 1996, 6% of all students were designated as having an SLD; 8% of African-Americans were designated as SLD. EEA 42, Bates No. 109.
d. Behavior Disorder
In the 1995-96 school year, African-Americans were overrepresented to a statistically significant degree in the category of Behavior Disorder (“BD”)-91 of 133, or 68.5%. OCR 27, Bates No. 51.
During the 1995-96 school year, African-Americans constituted 68.5% of students with a primary disability of BD. OCR 28, Bates No. 52.
Between 1993 and 1996, African-Americans comprised 61% of BD students; during this time they comprised 32% of the student population. EEA 44, Bates No. 111.
Between 1993 and 1996, 2% of all students district-wide were designated as BD; a total of 4% of the entire African-American student population was so designated. EEA 44, Bates No. 111.
e. Mental Impairment
In the 1995-96 school year, African-Americans were overrepresented to a statistically significant degree in the category of Mental Impairment (“MI”) — 87 of 152, or 57.3%. OCR 27, Bates No. 51.
Between 1993 and 1996, African-Americans comprised 52 % of MI students; during the same period African-Americans comprised 32 % of the student population. EEA 43, Bates No. 110.
Between 1993 and 1996, 1% of all students were designated as MI; 3% of African-Americans were designated as MI. EEA 43, Bates No. 110.
f. Referral Process
In the 1995-96 school year, African-Americans were overrepresented to a statistically significant degree in the group of students referred for initial case study evaluations for special education. OCR 27, Bates No. 51.
At each elementary school in the District, the rate of referral of African-American students for case study evaluations for special education exceeded the rate of referral for white students. OCR 27, Bates No. 51.
Disparities in the effectiveness of individual Building Support Teams (“BSTs”) were evidenced by the records maintained by the teams when documenting actions taken regarding specific students at rates of referral by race. OCR 27, Bates No. 51.
During the 1995-96 school year, African-Americans were overrepresented to a statistically significant degree in the group of students referred by BSTs for discussion and for initial case study evaluation. OCR 27, Bates No. 51.
2. District’s Actions Post-Agreement
In 1999-2000, African-American students comprised 48.6% of special education students in elementary schools, 56% in middle schools, and 43% in high schools. EEAR SpEd 2, Bates No. 197.
Screening occurs for all students in accordance with Illinois law. EEAR SpEd 3, Bates No. 198.
Elementary teachers identify students with underachievement, poor behavior and excessive absenteeism. These students are monitored and provided early interventions. EEAR SpEd 3, Bates No. 198.
The District has reviewed and continues to monitor the racial, ethnic, and gender balance of BSTs. EEAR SpEd 3, Bates No. 198.
On August 15, 1997, the District discontinued “informal” psychological evaluation of students prior to conducting case study evaluations. EEAR SpEd 3, Bates No. 198.
The District provided training for staff who serve on BSTs, including identification procedures, intervention strategies, and evaluation procedures. EEAR SpEd 3, Bates No. 198.
In 1999-2000, training was conducted on “Instructional Strategies for Hard to Reach Students.” EEAR SpEd 3, Bates No. 198.
In 1998-99, the District retained a special education consultant who visited all BSTs. A “self assessment” survey was completed and a training matrix was developed. EEAR SpEd 3, Bates No. 198.
On March 14-15, 2001, the District retained Dr. James Patton to review data to support eligibility and placement decisions, and other patterns that could serve as recommendations to staff to better serve this population of students. Patton 1, Bates No. 548.
Patton’s report indicated that, while psychological portions of student files provided more than adequate documentation and evidence of disability in some areas, cultural and social data were lacking, and the total environment of the child may not have been considered. Patton 1, Bates No. 548.
Patton recommended collecting more substantive data in the SDS category regarding culture and cultural traditions and influences on the child, home and school. Patton 1, Bates No. 548.
In 1999-2000, African-American students comprised 50.2% of the Speech and Language enrollment in the elementary schools. EEAR SpEd 2, Bates No. 197.
In 1999-2000, African-Americans comprised 42.8% of the elementary SLD enrollment. EEAR SpEd 2, Bates No. 197.
In 1999-2000, African-Americans comprised 59.1% of the BD enrollment district wide. EEAR SpEd 2, Bates No. 197.
In 1999-2000, African-Americans comprised 61.7% of MI enrollment district wide. EEAR SpEd 2, Bates No. 197.
To ensure equitable identification, BD criteria was tightened in 1998 and LD criteria was tightened in 1999-2000. EEAR SpEd 3, Bates No. 198.
C. Enrollment and Attendance
1. Pre-Agreement Data
While African-American enrollment levels appeared to show increasing or flat enrollment at elementary and middle school levels, African-American enrollment declined dramatically, from 29% in 1992-1993 to 23% in 1997-98, at the high school level. EEA 22, Bates No. 89.
African-American student attendance rates lag behind that of their white counterparts. EEA 16, Bates No. 83.
For the 1996-97 school year, at the elementary level, the mean number of days attended for African-Americans was 171 days compared to 174 for other racial and ethnic groups. Notably, 10% of African-Americans missed 36 days or more of school. EEA 24, Bates No. 91.
For the 1996-97 school year, at the middle school level, the mean number of days attended for African-Americans was 168, compared to 172-73 days for other racial and ethnic groups. EEA 25, Bates No. 92.
For the 1996-97 school year, at the high school level, the mean number of days attended for African-Americans was 159, compared to 165-67 days for other racial and ethnic groups. EEA 26, Bates No. 93.
For the 1996-97 school year, days attended appears to drop off dramatically at the lowest 25th percentile. EEA 26, Bates No. 93.
The disparity between African-American and white and other students in attendance rates, dropout rates, and discipline rates contribute to lower graduation rates for African-American students compared to their percentage of the school population. EEA 16, Bates No. 83.
2. District’s Actions Post-Agreement
While Dr. Peterkin and Mr. Lucey have made several recommendations to address this issue, there is nothing in the record to indicate what steps the District has taken in this regard.
D. Mobility ¡Drop Out Rates
1. Pre-Agreement Data
African-American dropout rates were higher than those of white and other student groups. EEA 16, Bates No. 83.
In 1997, 59% of high school dropouts were African-American. This compares to an overall African-American high school enrollment of 26%. This disproportionate percentage stayed roughly consistent between 1993 and 1997. EEA 70, Bates No. 137.
African-American student high school graduation rates decreased from 94% in 1993 to 70% in 1997. High school graduation rates for white students was 90% in 1997. EEA 71, Bates No. 138.
The disparities between African-American and white and other students in attendance rates, dropout rates, and discipline rates contribute to lower graduation rates for African-American students as compared to their percentage of the school population. EEA 16, Bates No. 83.
2. District’s Actions Post-Agreement
The District has increased the number of African-Americans graduating from high school during the period from 1998-2000. EEAR Achvt. 2, Bates No. 232.
The District has decreased significantly the number of African-Americans dropping out of high school from school year 1997. EEAR Achvt. 2, Bates No. 232.
E. Gifted Education
1. Pre-Agreement Data
Prior to the 1997-98 school year, at the elementary level, only pre-selected students were given gifted and talented program screening tests. If the student did not have a strong teacher or parent advocate, the student was not given access to the prerequisite screening test and, therefore, did not have access to the program. EEA 15, Bates No. 82.
In the spring and summer of 1996, only 6.3% of African-Americans took the Cognitive Abilities Test, a voluntary test used to place students in gifted programs. The overall enrollment of African-Americans in grades one through four was approximately 34%. OCR 6-7, Bates Nos. 30-31.
In the 1996-97 school year, overall African-American enrollment in grades two through five was approximately 33%; African-American enrollment in the gifted and talented program in elementary school was 2.7%. OCR 7, Bates No. 31.
In 1997-98, the African-American population in Champaign was 38%; African-American enrollment in the elementary school gifted and talented program was 3%. EEA 31, Bates No. 98.
For students of a higher socio-economic status during the 1997-1998 school year, 16.85% of students were screened for gifted and talented programs. Whites were screened at 16.79%; Asians, Hispanics, and Native Americans were screened at 31.29%; African-Americans were screened at 5.88%. EEA 32, Bates No. 99.
For students of a lower socio-economic status during the 1997-98 school year, 4.14% of students were screened for gifted and talented programs. Whites were screened at 6.81% Asians, Hispanics, and Native Americans were screened at 13.25% and African-Americans were screened at 2.19%. EEA 32, Bates No. 99.
African-American students are also under-represented in the gifted and talented Programs at the middle school level:
At the middle school level, during the 1996-1997 school year, a total of 376 District students enrolled in a least one segment of the gifted program. Of this total, 23 or 6.2% of the students are African-American. When this ratio was compared to the African-American middle school students enrollment rate of approximately 32%, the difference is statistically significant. OCR 7, Bates No. 31.
African-Americans were under-represented to a statistically significant degree among sixth grade students recommended for placement during the 1997-98 school year in upper level mathematics courses and among eighth grade students recommended for placement during the 1997-98 school year in upper level high school mathematics, science, and English courses. OCR 11, Bates No. 35.
African-Americans were enrolled in the middle school gifted and talented program as follows:
1995-96 1996-97 1997-98
Math/science
Language ails/ social studies
Performing arts
2% 2% 3%
12% 16% 15%
During these years, African-Americans comprised 31-32% of the middle school population. EEA 34, Bates No. 101.
2. District’s Actions Post-Agreement
The District has changed the screening process so all first graders are screened with a non-verbal assessment validated as a tool for increasing the participation of minority students in the gifted and talented programs. EEAR Gifted 3, Bates No. 186.
The District has engaged in extensive community and parental outreach, including: (1) sending flyers home to all families; (2) visiting the homes of families who decided not to have their child participate in the gifted program; (3) telephoning families regarding