Erica Frankenberg, associate professor of education and demography and co-director of the Center for Education and Civil Rights at Penn State, recently participated in a congressional briefing on diversity to present her research on school integration.
The goal of the briefing was to discuss voluntary, community-led strategies to promote increased diversity in schools and neighborhoods. The briefing, hosted by U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, brought together educators, researchers and community leaders with U.S. Secretary of Education John King, civil rights leaders, and Congressional staffers.
The event included a panel on the benefits of school diversity and opportunities at the federal level. Frankenberg was asked to discuss her research on racial and economic segregation and inequality in K-12 schools and how the design of school choice policy affects racial and economic student stratification.
“I was honored to be asked to participate on the panel,” said Frankenberg. “My educational research shows that diversity in schools and communities can be a powerful lever for promoting positive outcomes in school and in life. It is my goal to make sure these findings are accessible and can be communicated to different audiences, including to help other communities pursue diversity.”
This event builds on the Stronger Together proposal included in President Obama’s FY 2017 budget —this voluntary program would support the development and expansion of new and existing, community-driven strategies to increase socioeconomic diversity in America’s schools.
Frankenberg’s research is supported in part by Penn State’s Population Research Institute, part of the Social Science Research Institute.