New York mayor tackles segregation in schools

Published on : 19/12/2020 – 08:45

–

The Democratic mayor of New York has launched a reform to allow more social and racial diversity in public schools in his city. From now on, high schools will no longer be able to restrict the recruitment of their students to their immediate geographical surroundings and skill tests will be abolished in colleges.

With our correspondent in Washington, Anne Corpet

Bill de Blasio relied on the coronavirus pandemic to launch its reform to promote social and racial diversity in New York public schools. The majority of students were not graded this term due to distance learning. And the mayor of the city has therefore decided to suspend the skills assessments hitherto practiced by colleges to choose the students they will welcome the following year.

Sustainable measure

But the measure will be sustainable. Selection will henceforth be made on the basis of a draw for colleges facing a demand greater than their capacities. In high school, selection tests will still be allowed, but admission criteria must be public in order to help all students prepare for them.

Removal of geographic selection

However, the geographic selection practiced by many establishments will be abolished. One way to allow good students from disadvantaged neighborhoods to access prestigious high schools in the most upscale neighborhoods, today mainly frequented by wealthy whites.

– .