Abstract:
The actions of the “Majority-5” bloc of the Wake County school board are prompting protests. The school board recently voted to eliminate diversity as a criteria for school placements. The board has claimed that this will help low-income students who were being neglected under the diversity mandate. The facts suggest that the new school assignment system will further hurt low-income minority students. The “Majority-5” are members from mostly upper-middle class, white, suburban areas of Raleigh and the other four school board members represent the city center and mostly poorer, minority students.