Sen. Chris Murphy is co-sponsoring the reintroduction of the Strength in Diversity Act, which is designed to promote diversity in public schools through a federal grant program to support voluntary, community-driven strategies.
The legislation would call for a study of current policies that might contribute to school segregation and develop evidence-based plans to address socioeconomic and racial isolation. The legislation also calls for “revising school boundaries, expanding equitable access to transportation for students, or improving open enrollment processes; creating or expanding school programs that can attract students from outside the local area; and recruiting, hiring, and training new teachers and improving teacher diversity.”
“American public schools are more segregated than they have been in generations,” Murphy said in a press statement. “Almost 70 years since the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, we still have a lot of work to do. Black and Latino students and those in low-income communities far too often get the short end of the stick and are more likely to attend segregated schools with fewer resources and educational opportunities. But let’s also be clear, all students benefit from a diverse classroom, and the Strength in Diversity Act would give local school districts and state education agencies the resources to better integrate schools and give every kid a quality education.”
Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. Among the senators joining Murphy in co-sponsoring the Senate version are Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT).