NAACP to host forum on Wake student assignment

The NAACP says it will give a report at 7 p.m. at Martin Street Baptist Church, 1001 E. Martin St., on a July 7 meeting between the group's leader and the Wake County Public School System superintendent.

Rev. William Barber met with Superintendent Tony Tata about the so-called "Community-Based Choice Plan," which allows parents to choose from a variety of schools based on their address. It also takes into account achievement balance and capacity at each school.

The school board adopted a new policy last year that moves away from the district's longstanding policy of busing students to achieve a socio-economic balance in schools.

Barber, whose group has been one of the most vocal critics of the new policy, is concerned that eliminating diversity as a factor in student assignment will lead to segregated schools.

Following his meeting with Tata, Barber said that, unless the wording of the policy is changed to specifically address diversity, the school system won't be able to guarantee that it won't segregate schools.