Race out as reason to deny Madison school transfers

Susan Troller:

Madison School Board members voted Monday night to halt the practice of using race as a reason to deny transfers by white students to other school districts for the current open enrollment period, which began Monday and continues through Feb. 22. [About open enrollment: Part and Full Time]

The decision was made by unanimous vote during the board's regular meeting, following a closed-door session with district superintendent Art Rainwater and the district's legal staff.

Last year, the portion of the district's open enrollment policy focusing on achieving racial balance in district schools affected about 120 students whose requests for transfer were denied, Rainwater said in a short interview following the meeting.

He said he had no idea how many students might be affected during the current enrollment period.

He also said that the Madison district has been closely following state statute regarding open enrollment, although it is the only district in the state to have denied transfers based on race.

"We take the laws of the state of Wisconsin very seriously," Rainwater said. "I guess I'd question why in the past the other districts weren't following the law as it's written."

Background: Madison Schools' Using race to deny white student transfers to be topic for the School Board by Andy Hall

Posted by Jim Zellmer at February 5, 2008 9:46 AM
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