Unedited Transcript "log" for Chat Event: "US_Supreme_Court_and_Desegregation"  moderated by Diverse Senior Staff Writer, David Pluviose

Chat Date/Time:  July 10, 2007, 1 – 2pm EDT

freetown85(Q)  I am curious...what is now being done at the two school districts that were affected by the decision? 

Dr_Wells(A)  We do not yet know. 

Toni(Q)  Dr. Flowers, my question is about the academic performance of Black students in all-Black settings versus integrated settings. Do Blacks really perform better in integrated environments?

 Dr_Flowers(A)  In general, research surrounding this topic has produced mixed results. The weight of evidence regarding this question suggests that African American students who attend historically Black colleges and universities perform similarly, and in some cases better, than African American students who attend predominantly White colleges. The limited research conducted involving K-12 schools has shown that race negatively impacts educational outcomes for Black students. However, the primary factor impacting this outcome has been closely linked to class standing and income levels.

Moderator (comment) This officially begins today’s Web chat. I would like to welcome all participants to Diverse: Issues In Higher Education’s Web chat on “The U.S. Supreme Court and Desegregation.” We will be discussing the high court’s decision to strike down school integration programs in Seattle and Louisville.

moderator(Q)  Let’s get to it. I would first like to ask North Carolina Central University School of Law Dean Raymond Pierce if these decisions overturn any existing legal precedents and if so, which ones?

Raymond_Pierce(A)  Yes. The Supreme Court's recent decision overturns quite a number of lower court decisions that approved the use of race as a factor in the assignment of students in public schools K through 12 grade.