Sherrod Brown

05/17/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/17/2022 17:16

On Anniversary of Brown V. Board, Brown Joins Murphy in Reintroducing Legislation to Increase Diversity in Schools

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), on the 68thanniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of EducationU.S. Supreme Court decision, reintroduced the Strength in Diversity Act. This legislation would promote diversity in schools through a federal grant program to support voluntary, community-driven strategies. U.S. Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA-03) and Mondaire Jones (D-NY-17) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
"Diversity is one of our country's greatest assets. As we mark the anniversary of Brown V. Board of Education, this legislation will help us nurture young talent, and allow more students to learn from both people who look like them, and from different perspectives. It will help us give children a well-rounded education and strengthen how students learn and grow, both in and out of the classroom," said Brown.
Specifically, the Strength in Diversity Act would establish a grant program to support voluntary local efforts to increase diversity in schools. Grants could fund a range of proposals, including:
  • Studying segregation, evaluating current policies, and developing evidence-based plans to address socioeconomic and racial isolation;
  • Revising school boundaries, expanding equitable access to transportation for students, or improving open enrollment processes;
  • Creating or expanding school programs that can attract students from outside the local area;
  • Recruiting, hiring, and training new teachers and improving teacher diversity;
  • Supporting the development and maintenance of best practices.
The Strength in Diversity Act has been endorsed by the following organizations: National Coalition on School Diversity, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, Poverty & Race Research Action Council, Magnet Schools of America, American Association of School Administrators, National Association of Secondary School Principals, The Education Trust, Capitol Region Education Council (CT).
Full text of the bill is available here.
A section-by-section of the bill is available here.
A one-pager on the bill is available here.

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