Better Criteria Needed for Awarding Grants for School Desegregation

There are several problems with the Emergency School Aid Act and with the administration of the act. Some program funds have been used for general education rather than for desegregation assistance because the administration allowed funding of: (1) school districts with planned desegregation efforts which were completed years ago; (2) schools not affected by desegregation plans; and (3) activities not related directly to implementing a desegregation plan. In addition, regulations governing the establishment or maintenance of integrated schools do not ensure that such schools differ significantly from others within a district. The state allotment formula and the Office of Education's grant award criteria may not effectively target funds to schools which have the greatest need for desegregation assistance.