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Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa announced the appointment of the Regents Research Work Group to oversee the work of the Board of Regents and the State Education Department to promote greater diversity within New York’s schools and school districts. This effort will be led by Research Work Group co-chairs Regents Judith Johnson and Luis O. Reyes.

New York is one of the most socioeconomically and racially diverse states in the nation. Yet, more than 60 years after the Supreme Court’s decision in Brown vs. Board of Education, the State continues to have the most segregated school system in the country according to some studies.

“The research could not be more clear,” said Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa. “Socioeconomic and racial integration leads to better academic outcomes for all students, while at the same time reducing the achievement gap among students of different racial backgrounds. It is well past time for New York to lead the nation on this matter that impacts all of us in such important ways.”��

“The appointment of the Research Work Group to oversee our diversity efforts is just the first step in a process to address this critical issue,” said State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia. “We will act thoughtfully and deliberately, and not before thoroughly engaging the public and stakeholders.”

To make new diversity policies sustainable, data regarding the level of integration in the State’s schools, districts and counties must be continually gathered and reported on – and the Regents Research Work Group will collect and analyze such data to help guide their decision-making.

The Board of Regents will continue to discuss the issues of diversity and integration at its retreat in July.

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