Norma Cantu, the Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights, could not be reached for comment on the new California guidelines. But in a recent speech to Texas educators, she advocated seeking a "middle ground."
Cantu said that institutions could opt for affirmative consideration, which she defined as "a practice by which race, ethnicity or gender may be one factor considered among others in evaluating qualified candidates.
"Affirmative consideration does not guarantee success or compromise merit," she said. "Rather, it emphasizes a broad range of qualifications. It is characterized by flexibility.
"The values of respect and mutual understanding will not define the America of the 21st century," Cantu added, "if we do not as a community now work to ensure that appropriate affirmative action programs and strategies remain as a part of our educational mission."
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