Skip Office Navigation
OCR: Office for Civil Rights!
   Current Section
Title VI: Equal Access to College and Career readiness programs and courses for African American Students: Grand Rapids Public School District (MI): (15-08-5001)

On February 10, 2014, OCR resolved a Title VI compliance review of Grand Rapids Public School District (District).  OCR’s investigation revealed that there was a disproportionate underrepresentation of African American students participating in the District’s high school Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses, its three enriched sixth-grade specialty schools, and in City High/Middle School, where its International Baccalaureate (IB) program is now located.  OCR entered into a resolution agreement with the District to ensure that African American students are provided an equal opportunity to access and participate in the District’s college and career readiness programs and courses.  The resolution agreement provides that the District will conduct a review and self-assessment of its current programs and courses offered at the elementary, middle, and high school levels to identify potential barriers, such as a lack of course offerings or supports at the elementary and middle school levels necessary to increase student preparedness and readiness for and their participation in college and career preparatory programs and courses in high school; survey students, parents/guardians, and staff as part of its review and self-assessment regarding their perceptions and understanding of the supports, curricula, and resources offered at the elementary and middle school level and the process for recruitment, selection, and participation in college and career preparatory programs and courses in high school; and retain a consultant with expertise in addressing the underrepresentation of African American students in college and career preparatory programs and courses to analyze District data and practices, at all grade levels, and to make recommendations, as appropriate, for improving the District’s efforts to provide all students with equal access to and an equal opportunity to participate in such programs and courses.  The District will consider this input in making changes and improving its efforts in this area.  In 2013, the District also began implementation of its “Transformation Plan,” which was adopted by the District Board of Education in December 2012.  The agreement requires the District to implement the Transformation Plan in a manner that is consistent with Title VI; OCR will monitor the District’s implementation of the commitments outlined in the Transformation Plan, including commitments to reinvest in certain schools, as part of its monitoring of the agreement. 

Read the Resolution Letter download files PDF (396K) | Read the Resolution Agreement download files PDF (239K)

 



   
Last Modified: 01/15/2020