Dora Taylor, public education activist in Seattle, can’t understand why two elected officials want to split Seattle into two school districts that are likely to intensify racial segregation.
For Dora Taylor, this is personal:
“I feel very strongly about this bill because my dad had no other choice but to live in the Central District when he was growing up in Seattle because of a city covenant that did not allow African-Americans to live outside of a boundary determined by the city. That meant little opportunity for my dad to grow beyond that border. He was fortunate enough to have a high school coach, at Franklin High School, who saw his talent and with his coach’s help, my dad, Brice Taylor, was one of the first three African-American students to attend the University of Southern California even against the wishes of the college president, but that’s another story.
“My dad went on to become the First All American at USC in football and that opened doors for him. Not everyone had that kind of opportunity. That’s why, what I term the Apartheid Bill, hits home for me. Some people find fault in my use of the term “Apartheid” but that is how I perceive it, through my lens.
“The Seattle Public School system reverted back to neighborhood schools not long ago which re-segregated our schools. Then with transportation cuts, it became even more difficult for students to attend special programs outside of their neighborhoods.
“Now, Representatives Sharon Tomiko Santos and Eric Pettigrew want to split the city in half along racial lines again, through legislation, into two separate school districts, separate but not equal. This is why politicians should not determine education policy. Either they don’t know enough to make an informed decision or they are following through on a donor’s agenda.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I don’t understand how taxpayer money can be used to promote segregation? Segregation masquerading as choice is still segregation. Has anyone gone to court to challenge this? I remember when we had affirmative action, government contractors, private companies, had to follow affirmative action policy in hiring practices. If government money is being used to fund a school, they should not be allowed to create a segregated school in an integrated area. How do they gain access to all the tax incentives to establish a school in a “high needs area” and then create a segregated school? I don’t see how this is legal.
Money.
Kind of like breaking California up North and South into two states, the idea being smaller more manageable parts. Where the garbage department might not need democratically elected local control, the schools need that, which is why large scale is cumbersome.
This is like gerrymandering for education. It should be illegal. It seems like Obama and Eric Holder are asleep at the wheel.
Seattle had pretty much free-choice of public schools, with transportation provided, until a few parents sued. I don’t know if they just didn’t get their applications in soon enough to get first choice, or didn’t want their kids to go to school with bused in minorities. My youngest daughter’s yearbooks from the 90’s look like a little U.N. The same school now is majority white. Some choice schools are available, most not district wide. Transportation has been seriously cut.