Economic SegregationEconomic SegregationChallenging Ohio’s Public SchoolsChallenging Ohio’s Public Schools

June 26June 26thth 2006 2006

Jason ReeceJason ReeceSenior GIS Demographic SpecialistSenior GIS Demographic Specialist

Rebecca RenoRebecca RenoResearch AssociateResearch Associate

Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and EthnicityKirwan Institute for the Study of Race and EthnicityThe Ohio State UniversityThe Ohio State University

http://www.kirwaninstitute.org/http://www.kirwaninstitute.org/

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Today’s DiscussionToday’s Discussion

► Factors that Impact EducationFactors that Impact Education

► Socioeconomic Segregation & School Socioeconomic Segregation & School QualityQuality

► Disparity Frames: Personal & Disparity Frames: Personal & StructuralStructural

► Socioeconomic Segregation & Racial Socioeconomic Segregation & Racial SegregationSegregation

► The Racialization of SpaceThe Racialization of Space

► Next StepsNext Steps

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Factors that Impact Factors that Impact EducationEducation

►Home EnvironmentHome Environment HealthHealth ViolenceViolence Housing (Stability & Housing (Stability &

Quality)Quality) Parent Education & Parent Education &

SESSES Student FactorsStudent Factors

► In-School Practices In-School Practices Curriculum/PedagogyCurriculum/Pedagogy TrackingTracking Special Special

Education/DisciplineEducation/Discipline

►Out of School FactorsOut of School Factors Early Childhood EducationEarly Childhood Education Community Engagement Community Engagement

& Resources& Resources

► Institutional FactorsInstitutional Factors FundingFunding Racial IntegrationRacial Integration Teacher QualityTeacher Quality Teacher/Staff/Teacher/Staff/

Administrative DiversityAdministrative Diversity Socioeconomic Socioeconomic

SegregationSegregation

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Socioeconomic SegregationSocioeconomic Segregation

► In Ohio’s six largest metropolitan regions…In Ohio’s six largest metropolitan regions…

Cleveland (Cuyahoga)Cleveland (Cuyahoga) Columbus (Franklin)Columbus (Franklin) Cincinnati (Hamilton)Cincinnati (Hamilton)

Toledo (Lucas)Toledo (Lucas) Dayton (Montgomery)Dayton (Montgomery) Akron (Summit)Akron (Summit)

►……more than half of all poor students are segregated into high poverty schools -more than half of all poor students are segregated into high poverty schools -defined as more than 60% of the student body economically disadvantageddefined as more than 60% of the student body economically disadvantaged

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““Socioeconomic composition of a Socioeconomic composition of a school’s student composition is an school’s student composition is an even stronger predictor [of even stronger predictor [of achievement] than an individual’s achievement] than an individual’s home background.”home background.”

- Urban Schools: The Challenge of Location and - Urban Schools: The Challenge of Location and PovertyPoverty

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Socioeconomic Segregation Socioeconomic Segregation & School Quality& School Quality

►Ohio’s public school classification Ohio’s public school classification system:system: ExcellentExcellent EffectiveEffective Continuous ImprovementContinuous Improvement Academic WatchAcademic Watch Academic EmergencyAcademic Emergency

►Of all high poverty schools, 94.4% are Of all high poverty schools, 94.4% are classified in the lowest three categoriesclassified in the lowest three categories

► In In NONO instance did high poverty schools instance did high poverty schools outperform non-high poverty schoolsoutperform non-high poverty schools

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The Link Between Socioeconomic The Link Between Socioeconomic Segregation & School QualitySegregation & School Quality

►Given this relationship, couldn’t these Given this relationship, couldn’t these

disparities be attributed to class disparities be attributed to class

alone?alone?

►This represents an argument growing This represents an argument growing

in popularity, but dangerous in its in popularity, but dangerous in its

implications- colorblindnessimplications- colorblindness

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Personal RacismPersonal Racism

►Racism has historically been defined as Racism has historically been defined as personal prejudice- a model dominant in personal prejudice- a model dominant in the 40’s & 50’sthe 40’s & 50’s

►Following policy interventions (e.g. Following policy interventions (e.g. Brown), racism is thought to have been Brown), racism is thought to have been eradicatederadicated

►This model is dominant both among This model is dominant both among public belief and in the law. public belief and in the law. In order to prove discrimination, there must In order to prove discrimination, there must

be intentbe intent►Thus unless there is a racist actor, racially Thus unless there is a racist actor, racially

disparate effects are meaninglessdisparate effects are meaningless

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Structural Racism Structural Racism

►Despite the civil rights movement, Despite the civil rights movement, group-based, durable inequalities still group-based, durable inequalities still existexist

►However, more and more Americans are However, more and more Americans are non-prejudicednon-prejudiced

►How do we explain this?How do we explain this? Structural Racism:Structural Racism: the blind interaction the blind interaction

between institutions, policies and between institutions, policies and practices which inevitably perpetuates practices which inevitably perpetuates barriers to opportunities and racial barriers to opportunities and racial disparities. disparities.

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Structural Racism- The Silent Structural Racism- The Silent Opportunity KillerOpportunity Killer

Education

Childcare

Effective Participation

Employment

HealthHousing

Transportation

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Nexus Between Economic & Nexus Between Economic & Racial Segregation Racial Segregation

► Strong correlation between economic Strong correlation between economic segregation & racial segregationsegregation & racial segregation

► Schools are largely segregated by race – Schools are largely segregated by race – nearly all schools with a majority of students nearly all schools with a majority of students of color are high povertyof color are high poverty

► The average White student attends a school The average White student attends a school with student poverty ranging from 23-30%with student poverty ranging from 23-30%

► For the average African American student, For the average African American student, school poverty ranges from 61-78% school poverty ranges from 61-78%

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Racial/Economic School Racial/Economic School SegregationSegregation

►Ohio is experiencing high levels of Ohio is experiencing high levels of both racial and school segregationboth racial and school segregation Rates of school segregation increased in Rates of school segregation increased in

Ohio’s major metropolitan areasOhio’s major metropolitan areas Vast inequities exist in the number of Vast inequities exist in the number of

African American students attending high African American students attending high poverty schoolspoverty schools

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School Poverty & RaceSchool Poverty & Race

Average School Poverty Rate for the Average Student by Race in 2000

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Schools and Schools and Affordable Housing: Affordable Housing: Two Dimensions of Two Dimensions of

SegregationSegregation

School segregation and housing segregation are

interconnected and reinforcing

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Effects of these Effects of these ArrangementsArrangements

► As these systems are working in the As these systems are working in the absence of overt discrimination, they are absence of overt discrimination, they are self perpetuatingself perpetuating

► Even more dangerous, with our dominant Even more dangerous, with our dominant disparity attribution frame (i.e. personal disparity attribution frame (i.e. personal discrimination = racism) these effects are discrimination = racism) these effects are not seen as racially discriminatory-not seen as racially discriminatory-

► Instead they are explained in individual waysInstead they are explained in individual ways

Laziness, personal choice, biological deficiencies, Laziness, personal choice, biological deficiencies, etc.etc.

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Implications of InequityImplications of Inequity

►When these inequities are acknowledged, When these inequities are acknowledged, they are framed in a way that they are framed in a way that demonstrates harm to the oppressed demonstrates harm to the oppressed only.only.

► In reality, they have psychological, In reality, they have psychological, sociological, and economic implications sociological, and economic implications for us all.for us all.

"I am not truly free if I am taking away someone "I am not truly free if I am taking away someone else's freedom, just as surely as I am not free when else's freedom, just as surely as I am not free when my freedom is taken from me. The oppressed and my freedom is taken from me. The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity.”the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity.”-Nelson Mandela -Nelson Mandela

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Economic Impacts: Economic Impacts: Regional HealthRegional Health

►Why should those who are not Why should those who are not marginalized care about equity marginalized care about equity challenges?challenges? High concentrations of poverty and High concentrations of poverty and

segregated neighborhoods can also have segregated neighborhoods can also have deleterious effects on the well-being and deleterious effects on the well-being and health of the entire metropolitan regionhealth of the entire metropolitan region

Concern about school quality is one of the Concern about school quality is one of the primary factors driving the flight of primary factors driving the flight of families with children out of the Cityfamilies with children out of the City►Destabilizing the entire city and furthering Destabilizing the entire city and furthering

segregationsegregation

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Linked Fate: Why Should Others Linked Fate: Why Should Others Care About Equity and InclusionCare About Equity and Inclusion

►A region and all its residents share a linked A region and all its residents share a linked fate fate This issue is particularly important today This issue is particularly important today

►To thrive, regions must be competitive in the To thrive, regions must be competitive in the global economyglobal economy

►Inequality is a sign of an economically/socially Inequality is a sign of an economically/socially inefficient region, where proper investments inefficient region, where proper investments are not made in human capital, and where are not made in human capital, and where much of the population can not meet its much of the population can not meet its creative potentialcreative potential

These disparities make the region less competitive, nationally These disparities make the region less competitive, nationally and globallyand globally

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Economic Health Economic Health and Equityand Equity

►How do racial and social inequities impact How do racial and social inequities impact overall regional health?overall regional health? Racial and regional inequities impact the health Racial and regional inequities impact the health

of the entire region, and impact everyone in the of the entire region, and impact everyone in the regionregion

The region loses its competitive edge in the The region loses its competitive edge in the global economyglobal economy► Inequitable schools that produce an unprepared Inequitable schools that produce an unprepared

(undereducated) labor force(undereducated) labor force► Interregional economic competition that erodes the Interregional economic competition that erodes the

region’s collective economic voice and powerregion’s collective economic voice and power►Fragmented and redundant governments, underused Fragmented and redundant governments, underused

and redundant infrastructure in suburban areasand redundant infrastructure in suburban areas

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Economic Impacts: Economic Impacts: Public InvestmentsPublic Investments

►Failing to adequately fund public Failing to adequately fund public education ultimately requires greater education ultimately requires greater public spending in other arenaspublic spending in other arenas Unemployment and healthcare: 50% of Unemployment and healthcare: 50% of

high school drop/push outs are high school drop/push outs are unemployed unemployed

Criminal justice system: 80% of prisoners Criminal justice system: 80% of prisoners did not complete high school did not complete high school

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Next StepsNext Steps

►Reframe the IssueReframe the Issue

Diversity as Excellence, not at the Diversity as Excellence, not at the expense ofexpense of

Linked Fate- equity for the benefit of allLinked Fate- equity for the benefit of all

►Pursue additional research to support Pursue additional research to support thesethese How is segregation harming How is segregation harming allall of us? of us? How would educational equity help us?How would educational equity help us?

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Goals of Public EducationGoals of Public Education

►Set goals, create positive vision for Set goals, create positive vision for educationeducation

►Three goals of educationThree goals of education1. Preparation for Success- Employment & 1. Preparation for Success- Employment &

Higher EducationHigher Education2. Build Human Capacity- 2. Build Human Capacity-

Psychological/Social DevelopmentPsychological/Social Development3. Civic Capacity- Knowledge & Participation3. Civic Capacity- Knowledge & Participation

►Which is most important?Which is most important?►Where are our efforts directed? Where are our efforts directed?

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Next Steps: Policy Next Steps: Policy InterventionsInterventions

► Identify policies that have been Identify policies that have been effective to achieve goalseffective to achieve goals Economic integration: Wake County, NC; Economic integration: Wake County, NC;

La Crosse, WI; Charlotte-Mecklenburg, NCLa Crosse, WI; Charlotte-Mecklenburg, NC Democratic merit: Clark University in Democratic merit: Clark University in

Worcester, MA; University of Texas 10% Worcester, MA; University of Texas 10% plan plan

►Establish a dialogue with policy Establish a dialogue with policy makers; expose them to the relevant makers; expose them to the relevant datadata

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Coalition buildingCoalition building

►Determine key intersections/leverage Determine key intersections/leverage pointspoints As all opportunity structures are intersecting, As all opportunity structures are intersecting,

key leverage points in alternate fields such key leverage points in alternate fields such as housing can have tremendous impactas housing can have tremendous impact►Good to Great- Minneapolis, MNGood to Great- Minneapolis, MN

►Coalition buildingCoalition building Bridge traditional institutional, class, Bridge traditional institutional, class,

geographic, racial, ethnic and religious geographic, racial, ethnic and religious boundariesboundaries

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Questions or Comments? Questions or Comments? For More Information Visit Us On-For More Information Visit Us On-

Line:Line:

www.KirwanInstitute.orgwww.KirwanInstitute.org

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““We are all caught up in an We are all caught up in an

inescapable network of mutuality, inescapable network of mutuality,

tied in a singletied in a single

garment of destiny. garment of destiny.

Whatever effects Whatever effects

one directly effects one directly effects

all indirectly.”all indirectly.”

-The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.-The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.