SED AP654: School Segregation
Spring 2024
Tuesdays 5-7:45pm
Open to all BU Students

I have been working on this course for two years and am excited to finally make it available to Boston University students. Space is limited. Sign up today via the student link.

About
This course explores the history and current state of school segregation in the United States.

Nearly 70 years after the landmark Brown v. Board decision, many of our K-12 school districts are still racially segregated. This has impacts for students of color who are more likely to be concentrated in under resourced and under performing schools and for white students who on average have the least access to diverse peers. This ongoing racial segregation of our schools widens the racial dialogue gap – our ability to talk about race across race – and hinders our efforts to close educational, economic, and other gaps based on race. School segregation has been one of the most intractable issues in education – one which this course tackles head on.

Students will take part in deep learning on this issue by engaging with numerous readings, films, and podcasts, as well as dynamic presentations, discussions, and small group work. As a culminating project, students will develop a comprehensive case study on school segregation and integration efforts in a city of their choosing.

Students will be able to:
1. Describe the history of housing and school segregation in the United States.
2. Measure housing and school segregation using various statistical methods.
3. Explain how the courts have impacted school segregation and integration efforts.
4. Analyze the state of school segregation in the US, and particularly the Northeast.

Final Project
Working in teams of five, students will produce a 10-page case study and a 20-minute presentation on the history and current state of school segregation and integration efforts in a city of their choosing. This comprehensive case study will include a review of relevant legal cases, major figures, key moments, pertinent debates, successes, failures, and the current state of segregation in their chosen community. The case study will be extensively researched, using 30-40 academic journal articles, news stories, government or think tank reports, or other credible sources. Researchers, policymakers, administrators, teachers, parents, or students should also be consulted throughout the process. The final product will be well-written and easy to follow, and provide a clear understanding of the history, trends, and current status of school segregation in their chosen community. The presentation will follow a similar format, with a particular focus on the current state of school segregation and integration efforts. Each presentation will be followed by 10-15 minutes of Q&A and class discussion.

Schedule

Week 1: Welcome
An introduction to the syllabus and class norms, the final group project, and basic concepts related to school and housing segregation. Students will review demographic data from their high school and share their own personal stories with segregation in their schools and communities through six-word stories, small group conversations, and a full-class discussion.

Week 2: Understanding Segregation
Reviewing the history of slavery and migration in the United States as well as the impacts of housing policy on neighborhood segregation.  

Week 3: Measuring Segregation
Reviewing statistical measures of school and housing segregation and using interactive mapping tools to explore patterns of segregation in the US.

Week 4: Schooling Before Brown
Rosenwald Schools, Native Boarding Schools and other segregated schools will be discussed. Court decisions upholding segregation will also be discussed.

Week 5: Brown v. Board & Massive Resistance
Brown v. Board (and related cases) will be reviewed. Particular focus will be placed on the Southern Manifesto and Massive Resistance following Brown.

Week 6: Integration Efforts & Related Court Cases
A review of integration efforts following the Brown decision and the passage of the Civil Rights Act as well as court cases and polices that upheld integration efforts and those that chipped away at them.

Week 7: Segregation Today
What segregation looks like in schools today, with a focus on demographic data. Students will discuss reports by the GAO, UCLA Civil Rights Project, and others.

Week 8: The Impacts of School Segregation
Research on how school segregation impacts education and outcomes. Students will engage with arguments for and against various integration programs.

Week 9: School Choice and School Segregation
Exploring the impact of charter schools, magnet schools, gifted schools, and other school types on school segregation.

Week 10: Boston Case Study
A case study on segregation in Boston. We’ll be joined by a guest speaker. May include a visit to the African American History Museum

Week 11: NYC Case Study
A case study on segregation in New York City. We’ll be joined by a guest speaker.

Week 12: Choosing Integration
The case for school desegregation and districts that are choosing integration.

Week 13: Final Project Presentations
Students will present their final group projects – a case study on school segregation and integration efforts in a city of their choosing.