School Choice Policies and Racial Segregation: Where White Parents’ Good Intentions, Anxiety, and Privilege Collide

• In Event: Roundtable Session 124
  In Roundtable Session: How Parents Choose: Sociological and Economic Perspectives

Abstract

A growing body of research has documented consistent patterns of racial/ethnic segregation resulting from free market school choice policies. Since privileged parents are more likely to get their children into the highest-status schools regardless of the policy in place, we believed that more research was needed on how parents interact with school choice policies. The assumption is that policies that allow segregated programs to be maintained are popular with privileged parents. However, our interviews with white, high SES parents suggest that many are bothered by the segregation they see in the schools, but are concerned that their children gain access to the “best” (mostly white) schools. The contradictions inherent in their choices are reconcilable by offering more diverse school options.

Authors

• Allison Roda, Teachers College, Columbia University

• Amy Stuart Wells, Teachers College, Columbia University