Piece Description

Chicago is a city of neighborhoods, one that is still very segregated in housing. And that's why neighborhood schools are so lopsided in racial makeup. Magnet and selective enrollment schools were created to draw applicants from a wider range of neighborhoods. But many question if magnet and selective enrollment schools actually accomplish that. And so, CPS has been integrating schools, including selective enrollment schools. In 1980, the government placed Chicago Public Schools under a consent decree, which required schools to keep a 15 to 35% non-minority population. For schools that couldn't be integrated, CPS would start up compensatory programs, such as extracurriculars, extra reading programs or after-school tutoring. But this kind of affirmative action may not last. On June 28th, 2007, the Supreme Court finally made their decision on the case PICS v. Seattle or Parents Involved in Community Schools vs. the Seattle school district. They argued that the way the Seattle school district used race in admissions was unconstitutional.