A new report gives California lawmakers poor marks for not addressing the racial divide in the state’s public schools. Researchers say more California schools remain separate and unequal. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis has more.
The Applied Research Center gives Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger an ‘F’ and the state Senate a ‘D’ for not supporting legislation aimed at bridging the racial divide. The report finds 47 percent of Latinos and 37 percent of blacks attend schools with virtually no white students. Researchers say non-white schools spend less money per student, are overcrowded and have fewer resources for college preparation. Researcher Menachem Kracjer says lawmakers can no longer ignore the problem.
Kracjer: We need to talk about this openly and honestly in the state of California. We know that solutions exist but unless there is a political will to do it, it's not going to matter.
Kracjer says California is one of three most segregated states, ranking behind only New York and Illinois. Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.
