Editing School segregation (section)

===== Definition ===== 

School segregation refers to the practice of separating students based on their race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background in schools. It has historically been a major issue in the United States, particularly during the era of racial segregation known as Jim Crow, which lasted from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century. During this time, laws were enacted to enforce racial segregation in schools, with African American students being forced to attend separate schools that were often underfunded and provided an inferior education compared to their white counterparts.

School segregation was challenged and ultimately ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. The court declared that segregated schools were inherently unequal and violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. However, despite this ruling, many schools remained segregated in practice due to resistance and slow implementation of desegregation efforts.

In recent years, school segregation has remained a persistent issue, although it has taken on a different form. While explicit racial segregation has been largely abolished, de facto segregation still persists due to factors such as residential segregation, income inequality, and school district zoning policies. This has led to significant disparities in educational opportunities and outcomes for students of different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Efforts to address school segregation and promote integration include busing programs, where students are transported to schools outside of their local neighborhood to achieve racial balance. Charter schools and school choice policies have also been implemented in some areas to provide parents with more options for selecting schools. Additionally, some communities have implemented voluntary integration programs or adopted measures to address housing segregation in order to promote diverse school environments.