Money or Diversity? An Implementation Analysis of the Voluntary Transfer Program in Saint Louis, 1999–2009

• In Event: 35.081 - Roundtable Session 13
  In Roundtable Session: 35.081-20 - School Choice: Distributional Issues

Abstract

In 1983, a dual transfer program was created in St. Louis where Black students from the city were provided with free transportation to suburban schools and White students from the surrounding suburbs were eligible to attend city magnet schools. At its peak in 1999, enrollment reached approximately 15,000 students, of which over 13,500 were from St. Louis. Following the lifting of the court order in 1999, suburban participation became voluntary, and by 2009, enrollment had fallen to approximately 7,000 students, of which 6,800 were from St. Louis. Using a media framing analysis, this paper will examine the factors that affected suburban implementation of the voluntary transfer program between 1999 and 2009.

Author

• Ain A. Grooms, University of Georgia - Athens