Coleman Advocates Position Statement On Preserving Racial Diversity in Public Schools

Racial and ethnic diversity in public schools is an indispensable element of an enriched educational experience for our children. Homogeneity in public education deprives school children of the opportunity to gain lifelong respect and appreciation for humanity's rich multicultural mosaic of languages, traditions, and histories. Furthermore, history has shown that racially isolated schools promote structural inequality and resource inequity, both of which exacerbate the achievement gap for students of color.

Coleman Advocates acknowledges the value of neighborhood schools, both as a means of facilitating parental involvement and nurturing community engagement in schools.

However, we believe these factors are outweighed by the overarching goal of preserving racial diversity in public schools as a means of encouraging civic engagement across communities, promoting understanding between students of different races and ethnicities, and building a more pluralistic society.
Along with preserving racial diversity, ensuring resource equity for all schools in all neighborhoods and optimum achievement for all students must comprise the foundation of successful school reform efforts.

Maintaining racial diversity without overtly using race as a factor in the SFUSD student assignment process is inherently problematic. Coleman Advocates strongly supports the aims of the diversity index in the school assignment process and recommends that the diversity index be maintained and adapted as necessary to ensure that its goals are achieved. Finally, efforts to achieve diversity must extend into the classroom, and involve administrators, teachers, and parents to facilitate genuine interaction among students of different races, cultures, and ethnicities.

Coleman Advocates believes that significant resources must be devoted to addressing the transportation needs of public school students, particularly in the elementary and middle school grades. A timeline with practical benchmarks should be developed to establish and meet district-wide goals of maximum access with minimum travel time for all students.

Furthermore, gang rivalries and neighborhood tensions expose urban high school youth to significant safety risks; therefore, the SFUSD and the City share responsibility in establishing and maintaining transportation safety zones or corridors for high school students to and from school.

• 2004 Board of Education Winners-Mar, Sanchez, Yee, and Wynns- Click Here to Find Out What They Promised During Their Campaigns
  In October 2004, a Coleman sponsored Board of Education Candidate Forum was held. Read the responses of the Board of Education Commissioners to our Candidate Forum questionnaire and their stance on important children and youth issues in our public schools.