A Successful School Integration Program

Fülszöveg

The second volume in the Roma Education Fund Working Paper Series, addresses a key topic: what is the impact of desegregation on children's educational outcomes? This is obviously an important issue, but it is a key topic for RJEF since we have often supported improvements in Roma education through desegregation programs. But the pursuit of desegregation should not be based just on belief that it is the right thing to do; our actions must be grounded in evidence. And the central piece of evidence is whether desegregation contributes to more success in school for Roma children. Moreover, in pursuing desegregation, as a tool for improving the educational outcomes for Roma, we must alsó consider the impact on other children. Serious policy (and political) questions would be raised if desegregation only helped Roma children. This study, whose quasi-experimental design ensures robust conclusions, demonstrates that this is emphatically not the case: both Roma and non-Roma children... Tovább

Fülszöveg

The second volume in the Roma Education Fund Working Paper Series, addresses a key topic: what is the impact of desegregation on children's educational outcomes? This is obviously an important issue, but it is a key topic for RJEF since we have often supported improvements in Roma education through desegregation programs. But the pursuit of desegregation should not be based just on belief that it is the right thing to do; our actions must be grounded in evidence. And the central piece of evidence is whether desegregation contributes to more success in school for Roma children. Moreover, in pursuing desegregation, as a tool for improving the educational outcomes for Roma, we must alsó consider the impact on other children. Serious policy (and political) questions would be raised if desegregation only helped Roma children. This study, whose quasi-experimental design ensures robust conclusions, demonstrates that this is emphatically not the case: both Roma and non-Roma children studying in schools participating in the Hungárián Government's desegregation program did at least as well and usually better than children in comparable schools across a rangé of different outcomes. Moreover, the study begins to identify why the program is successful. This study is important reading for all those responsible for policies and programs that promote social inclusion for a better society and more productive economy. Toby Linden Director Roma Education Fund Vissza