In response to the June 2007 U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding race-conscious student assignment policies in K-12 education, the National School Boards Association and the College Board produced a joint policy paper for school districts, "Not Black and White: Making Sense of the United States Supreme Court Decisions Regarding Race-Conscious Student Assignment Plans." Released in September, this paper serves as a resource for school districts and states that are seeking to improve educational outcomes and ensure equal opportunity by enhancing school-based student diversity.

The paper outlines specific policy implications that stem from the Court's decision in Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1 and relevant federal law. For example, school districts can pursue diversity-related goals through various means including appropriately designed race-conscious policies aligned with evidence-based educational goals, but those policies must reflect a fundamental coherence between means and ends; i.e., they must be necessary for and materially advance diversity-related goals.

"The College Board is committed to connecting diversity efforts with educational excellence at all levels of education. We believe increasing access to educational opportunities for all students should be a national priority," said Gaston Caperton, president of the College Board.

Recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions have had implications for higher education as well. The College Board's Access & Diversity Collaborative is helping colleges and universities develop and implement diversity-related policies in line with institutional goals and federal nondiscrimination law.

The Collaborative provides extensive training to higher education institutions throughout the nation, having conducted 19 national seminars, with more than 1,000 representatives from 350 institutions and organizations. The authors of "Not Black and White" — the Education Policy Team of Holland & Knight LLP, led by former U.S. Department of Education civil rights officials - provide core legal and policy services in support of our efforts in national seminars and through written guidance for higher education institutions. A schedule of upcoming seminars is listed below.

"Not Black and White" and a list of frequently asked questions regarding diversity are available online.

Advance registration is required.

Attendance fee: $195 per participant (receive a complimentary registration for each paid collaborative sponsor registration)

Register for an upcoming seminar.