Underwood is the Susan Engeleiter Professor of Education Law, Policy, and Practice, and the former dean of the School of Education.

Underwood begins by writing: “The U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark anti-discrimination case, Brown v. Board of Education (1954), offered the hope of equity and access for all children. Unfortunately, what started as a strong judicial statement lost its steam and left schools to try to make good on these promises in a changing legal environment.”

Underwood explains that, at the time of the ruling, states were quick to close schools in resistance, or offer vouchers to private schools, which do not accept non-white students. Underwood recalls the 1974 case, Milliken v. Bradley, as a sign of further stalling in the wake of Brown v. Board of Education (1954).

More recently, Underwood cites the court case Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle (2007) as an example of persistent segregationist policy. This case makes it difficult for districts to implement race-conscious enrollment policies that promote diversity in schools and that were intended to combat racial isolationism.

Following the topic of racial isolationism, Underwood reports figures that state at least 71 communities have seceded from their districts nationwide since 2000, a movement that has only increased the problem of racial isolationism.

To get the full picture on this important topic, check out Underwood’s column on this Kappan magazine web page.