Erica Frankenberg, associate professor of education (educational leadership) and director of the Center for Education and Civil Rights at Penn State, was one of four panelists who will present "School Integration 2018," a briefing on past progress, present threats and future opportunities, that took place recently in the House Visitor Center of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
"Events such as this are important because people need to be informed about this situation," Frankenberg said. "Understanding is a necessary precursor to action. Without action, there is no change."
Frankenberg and her fellow panelists provided their insights on innovative solutions to remedy rising resegregation, according to the National Coalition on School Diversity (NCSD), which sponsored the event. Frankenberg also described research about the benefits of integrated K-12 schools, as well as her research about the federal government’s role pertaining to integrating the nation’s schools.
The panel also included James Ford, independent consultant with Filling the Gap Educational Consultants LLC; Cara McClellan, Skadden Fellow with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund; and Zahava Stadler, director of policy and research at EdBuild. The conversation was moderated by Damon Hewitt, senior adviser with Open Society Foundations. U.S. Rep Bobby Scott (D-Virginia) was also invited to speak.
The purpose of the presentation was to share a greater understanding of threats to integration and opportunities to combat those threats with Capitol Hill staff and advocates.
NCSD is a national network supporting a diverse group of constituents to advocate for and create experiences, practices, models and policies that promote school diversity/integration and reduce racial and economic isolation in K-12 education. The work is guided by a vision of an inclusive, multiracial society that maintains itself through just social structures. For more information about NCSD and its work, visit http://school-diversity.org/. For more information about the event, visit http://school-diversity.org/integration2018/.