Democrats in Congress have proposed through federal grants.
The Strength in Diversity Act was introduced Thursday by Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, and Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. The legislation would authorize $120 million in grants for 鈥渧oluntary community-driven strategies鈥� to increase diversity through studying segregation, hiring new teachers, and other means.
In statements discussing the bill, Fudge and Murphy stressed the importance of diversity in closing academic achievement gaps and address resource inequities. Fudge and Murphy are members of the House and Senate education committees, respectively.
Diversity was a top priority for the Obama administration, especially for former U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. At the tail end of Obama鈥檚 presidency, the administration . However, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos pulled the grant program before it got off the ground. She also that highlighted ways schools could promote racial diversity.
According to Murphy鈥檚 office, the Strength in Diversity Act鈥檚 grants could pay for:
- Studying segregation, evaluating current policies, and developing evidence-based plans to address socioeconomic and racial isolation;
- Establishing public school choice zones, revising school boundaries, or expanding bussing service;
- Creating or expanding innovative school programs that can attract students from outside the local area, and
- Recruiting, hiring, and training new teachers to support specialized schools.
鈥淐ongress needs to step up and do what we can to make sure school districts have the necessary tools to increase diversity in schools, which we know will help close the achievement gap,鈥� Murphy said in a statement.
And Fudge included a dig at DeVos in her statement about the bill: 鈥淲e currently have a Department of Education鈥攗nder the leadership of Secretary DeVos鈥攖hat is actively undermining students鈥� civil rights protections. Increasing diversity in staff, resources, and student populations in our public schools should be a top priority.鈥�
Like virtually all bills from Democrats this Congress, education-related or otherwise, this bill doesn鈥檛 stand much of a chance of passing. But , such as those who attended a Capitol Hill forum recently, say there are opportunities to gain ground outside of the Beltway.