Posted by Marley Havercome.
A union of families and advocates sued New Jersey, claiming that the public school system is racially and socioeconomically segregated due to the so-called “Home Rule” statute which ties school enrollment to municipal boundaries. Judge Robert T. Loughy a Judge in the state of New Jersey’s Superior Court had a mixed ruling that brought to light the persistent racial imbalances in various districts but rejected claims of statewide segregation, while also holding the state accountable for failing to address the issue. In an article written by Catherine Carrera she says, “New Jersey ranks among the most segregated for Black and Latino students, with data showing many attend school with 90-99% non-white enrollment” (Carrera 1). As of October 26, 2023, that was the deadline that the plaintiffs had to appeal, negotiate, or pursue a trial. The case highlighted the ongoing challenges in addressing school segregation, with traces of political resistance and a push for systemic change.
The issue in the case was whether the New Jersey’s public school system was made around the “Home Rule” Statute, and perpetuates unconstitutional racial and socioeconomic segregation, violated the state’s constitutional ban on school segregation.
The Plaintiffs failed to prove statewide socioeconomic and racial segregation in New Jersey schools, but the court acknowledged the “persistent racial imbalance” in several districts and rejected the state’s argument that it should not be held responsible for addressing segregation.
New Jersey’s state constitution, “explicitly bans school segregation and requires the state to provide a thorough and efficient education for all students”
The court got its decision from New Jersey’s state constitution. It has also come from and referenced earlier New Jersey Supreme Court rulings, such as Robinson v. Cahill and Abbott v. Burke, which laid out the state’s obligation to address educational inequities. Federal cases like Brown v. Board of Education were also used to address these problems and have the court focused on constitutional principles and precedents to help develop its decision.
Marley is an economics and finance dual major at the Stillman School of Business, Seton Hall University, Class of 2027.
Link: https://www.chalkbeat.org/newark/2023/10/13/23915907/new-jersey-school-segregation-lawsuit-latino-action-network-naacp/ Links to an external site.