In September the incoming sixth graders in District 15 began their school year in middle schools that were far more integrated than in previous years due to the removal of exclusionary screens in the admission process and the use of pro-diversity admissions plans. We already knew that the District 15 diversity plan was an overwhelming success in opening access for all students to the district’s middle schools. Offers of admission were spread far more equally under the new diversity plan than under the prior regime. Additionally, we learned that the plan was also a huge victory in terms of actual enrollment. Recently released data demonstrate that most families accepted their offers of admission and have not “fled” the district schools in search of other options as some commentators had predicted.
Read the Daily News op-ed by Council Member Brad Lander and Appleseed