Tulsa Schools to end quotas at 2 magnet schools

Monday, October 27th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Tulsa Public Schools makes a move to end quotas at two local magnet schools. TPS announced Monday afternoon they will change the admission policies at Booker T Washington High School and Carver Middle School.

News on 6 anchor Scott Thompson says right now, Booker T and Carver Middle School both make sure about half of the student body is black and the other half is white. But school leaders announced Monday that policy is not in line with a recent Supreme Court decision.

BTW was integrated back in the 1970s after a desegregation lawsuit was filed in 1968. Since then Washington and Carver require the entering classes to meet academic standards and be racially mixed. 45% of the students are black, another 45% is white and other racial groups make up the remaining 10%. But a landmark Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action could change all that.

The Supreme Court says race can play a factor, but it outlawed racial quotas. Now, TPS is trying to bring its two magnet schools in line with that ruling. TPS Superintendent Doctor David Sawyer plans on holding several public meetings to discuss the district's option.

Sawyer also says he intends to maintain Washington and Carver's traditions of diversity and academic excellence.

The district has not specifically said how they plan to change the admissions policy at Washington and Carver. But they did say they are looking into the recommendations of a 2000 magnet school task force.