called on parents to take charge of improving diversity in their schools and classrooms鈥攂oth among students and teachers鈥攄uring a recent speech before the National Parent Teacher Association.
The issue of student and teacher diversity has been a major issue for King since his appointment to take over the federal department in fall 2015.
In this case, King was addressing parents who make decisions about where they send their children to school at a time when there are increasing choices, both among district and charter schools. In many communities, that leads to more segregation among student bodies.
鈥淭oday, diversity is not a nicety but a necessity. Not just for some students, but for all of our students,鈥� King said.
鈥淲hat I鈥檓 asking you today is to act not only in the interest of someone else鈥檚 kids, but also to act boldly in the interest of your own. I鈥檓 asking you to demand diversity, not just in schools, but also in the classrooms within those schools.鈥�
The July 1 speech was at the which thousands of members attended over the weekend in Orlando, Fla.
In addition to improving student diversity, King asked parents to push for changes among their schools鈥� teaching forces. King said that while a growing majority of students are not white, only about 18 percent of teachers are nonwhite.
鈥淭his work may not be easy but it must be done. And it won鈥檛 happen without an active force of parents encouraging, demanding, the kinds of diversity that genuinely benefit all of our kids,鈥� King said.
鈥淪o if your children, or your students, go through their school day without diversity as an essential part of their learning experience, ask, really ask, your school leaders why. Find out if there is an effort to increase the economic and racial diversity of your school system. If there is, find out how you can help. If there isn鈥檛, start it and lead it.鈥�
King has talked about diversity issues at other recent events, including and a .
President Barack Obama鈥檚 budget request also includes an emphasis on school integration, as written by Education Week鈥檚 Politics K-12 bloggers.
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