an poorer districts.
- Long Island is the third most racially segregated suburban region in America. Our racially segregated neighborhoods produce racially and economically segregated classrooms. This means that black and Latino students are systematically denied access to well-funded schools and as a result are denied the opportunity for a high quality education.
ERASE Racism has determined that if Long Island school district lines were redrawn along town and city lines, a total of 15 districts would result, which would be far less segregated by race as well as income. Singer points out that if Malverne, Lakeview, and Rockville Centre were combined into one school district, the student population would be 53 percent white, 30 percent black, 13 percent Latino, and 4 percent Asian.
And these are not merely implausible, idealistic goals. ERASE Racism reports that research shows that when classes are mixed by race and ability, all students benefit.
After biology classes in Rockville Centre were more fully integrated in 2001, along with a more rigorous curriculum, the number of white and Asian-American students that passed the State Regents exam rose from 85 percent to 94 percent and the number of black and Latino students that passed the exam shot up from 48 percent to 77 percent.
Research has also shown that students that learn in more heterogeneous settings become more critical thinkers, learn more overall and are ultimately more prepared to live in an ever-increasing diverse society.
Springer concluded his blog by saying “On Long Island, our diversity is one of our greatest resources. It is time to finally racially integrate our schools.”