ERASE Racism Report Reveals Unequal Resources for NYS Students Based on Race

Syosset, NY – July 11, 2022 – ERASE Racism today released a research report titled “Unequal Resources for Students in New York State Based on Race.” It examines the extent to which school districts in New York State have different levels of educational resources based on a district's racial composition. The results are significant:

• Predominantly White school districts (with student bodies that are at least 85% White) offer more than four times the number of Advanced Placement (AP) courses in relation to the number of high school students compared to intensely segregated school districts (whose student bodies are at least 90% non-White). The median ratio of high school students to AP course offerings in intensely segregated districts is 320, compared to 75 in predominantly White districts.

• Intensely segregated districts have, on average, twice the number of students for every guidance counselor as there are in predominantly White districts.

• There are also major discrepancies between the fiscal stress scores and environmental stress scores of intensely segregated districts and those of predominantly White districts. These discrepancies have important implications for funding.

The report also reveals the counties with the largest number of intensely segregated school districts. They are Nassau with seven, and three counties with six each: Kings (Brooklyn), The Bronx, and Westchester.

The report expands upon a previous ERASE Racism report released in May titled “Unequal Resources for Long Island Students Based on Race.” That report found striking differences in the levels of educational resources on Long Island, based on a school district’s racial composition. It, therefore, prompted the statewide report issued today.

“This unequal distribution of educational resources based on race must be addressed,” said Elaine Gross, President of ERASE Racism. “The number of intensely segregated school districts needs to be confronted, as does the extent to which school districts in New York have different levels of educational resources based on a district’s racial composition. State leaders and candidates for elected office should speak to these issues and what they will do about them. All New Yorkers should work to make sure that our children experience a more just future by supporting the recommendations articulated in this report.”

The full report is available here. Additional information on ERASE Racism is available at www.eraseracismny.org.