Over 70 years have passed since the Supreme Court ruled on Brown v. Board of Education, yet segregation in American schools is surging. In the largest 100 school districts, segregation between white and Black students has increased by 64% since 1988. The failure to fully integrate schools has had profoundly negative impacts on students across the country, leading to academic performance gaps.
Despite the continued segregation in American schools, the Trump Administration has been fighting school desegregation plans. Recently, the justice department moved to dismiss a desegregation order in Louisiana, ending federal oversight and claiming the order was left open by mistake.This dramatic shift in approach to school desegregation efforts has raised concerns around the hundreds of desegregation orders that still exist. At a time when the country needs increased effort toward school desegregation, the Trump Administration is dismissing desegregation orders and going after diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
Members of Congress have been attempting to tackle the rise of school segregation. Rep. Robert “Bobby” Scott, a Virginia Democrat, introduced the Strength in Diversity Act of 2025, which creates a federal grant program for promoting racial and socioeconomic diversity in schools. This legislation would provide federal dollars to fund local desegregation efforts based on specific community needs. This act rewards desegregation efforts and gives communities the opportunity to design unique desegregation plans.
First Focus on Children organized and hosted a Congressional briefing that addressed the importance of discussing diverse viewpoints in schools, accommodating the needs of all students, and creating a welcoming school environment for everyone. The briefing highlighted the power of school belonging and inclusive cultures in public schools.
Dr. Emily Penner from UC Irvine presented her finding that coursework centering ethnicity improved grade point averages, high school graduation rates, and attendance for all students, not just those from minority backgrounds. She found that 8th grade students in San Francisco schools that were automatically enrolled in ethnic studies coursework were 16 percentage points more likely to graduate from high school than students who weren’t automatically enrolled.
Dr. Sophia Rodriguez from New York University emphasized that Latino youth report lower levels of belonging than their peers, and that educators must better address racial harassment by those who make the school environment harmful. She emphasized the need for schools to make formal connections with local organizations, such as community centers, which are effective in fostering a sense of belonging for Latino and immigrant youth.
Despite the rise in segregation in American schools and the continued need for supporting students of color, the Trump Administration is going after diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts that aim to support all students. It is critical now more than ever to support the need to create an inclusive and diverse environment in schools.