De jure educational segregation

1998
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De jure educational segregation refers to the separation of students based on their race or ethnicity by law or government policy. It refers to instances where educational institutions or systems are intentionally designed or legally mandated to keep students of different races or ethnicities separate from each other.

Historically, de jure educational segregation was prevalent in the United States during the era of Jim Crow laws, which enforced racial segregation in various aspects of society, including education. These laws enforced separate schools for African American and white students, with the facilities and resources provided often being significantly unequal. This resulted in a significant disparity in educational opportunities and outcomes for students of different races.

The landmark Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board of Education (1954), declared that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional and violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This ruling was significant in desegregating schools and dismantling de jure educational segregation. However, despite the legal abolition of segregation, de facto segregation still persists in some educational systems due to factors like housing patterns and socioeconomic inequalities.

De jure educational segregation is regarded as a discriminatory practice that denies equal educational opportunities to students and perpetuates social and economic inequalities. Efforts to promote diversity, inclusivity, and equal access to quality education continue to be important in addressing the consequences of past segregation and ensuring equitable educational opportunities for all students.

Further reading

Barkoff A.N. (1998) "Revisiting de jure educational segregation: legal barriers to school attendance for children with special health care needs.", Cornell journal of law and public policy, 8(1), pp. 135-199. . DOI: [1]