NC school board moves toward scrapping diversity policy in favor of neighborhood schools

NC school board moves toward ditching bus plan

RALEIGH, N.C. — A North Carolina school system is moving away from a policy of busing children to schools outside their neighborhood to achieve diversity.

The board that governs schools in Raleigh voted 5-to-4 Tuesday to stop assigning students by socio-economic background. The change still needs final approval later this month. If it receives the final OK, the changes would take place over 15 months.

Dozens of parents and students lined up to speak to the board as discussion began late Tuesday afternoon.

The Wake County plan, adopted in 2000, kept school campuses integrated and became a blueprint for other school systems. But it grew unpopular with local parents.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina school board has voted to scrap a policy of assigning students by socio-economic background in favor of a system of neighborhood schools.

The 5-to-4 vote on Tuesday night approved a resolution to begin moving away from busing to achieve diversity. It was an illustration of the Wake County Public School Board’s makeup.

Board members in favor of the change were swept into office by a group of vocal parents who complained that the current student assignment plan took their children too far from home.

Dozens of parents and students lined up to speak to the board as discussion began late Tuesday afternoon.

The Wake County plan, adopted in 2000, kept school campuses integrated and quickly became a blueprint for other school systems. But school systems across the South began to shift away from diversity.