The penalty for doing your homework
The Supreme Court agreed Monday to decide whether a school district can write admissions rules that shrink one racial group’s share of seats, then escape a lawsuit because that group still comes out ahead. The case is Association for Education Fairness v. Montgomery County Board of Education.
TL;DR
- The Supreme Court will decide if a school district can face lawsuits over admissions rules that disadvantage one racial group, even if that group still receives disproportionate offers.
- Montgomery County Public Schools implemented 'local norming' for magnet program admissions, which critics claim reduced Asian American students' share of invitations.
- The Fourth Circuit dismissed the lawsuit, stating the group's offers were still above their applicant pool share, a decision the author argues misinterprets precedent.
- The case questions whether policies that discount scores based on school strength penalize parental effort and preparation.
- Alternative methods like universal testing and enrichment funding are suggested for districts seeking wider access to talented students.