It’s official. A federal judge has lifted Tyler ISD’s 46-year-old desegregation order by declaring the school district unitary in all areas and dismissing its desegregation case.
This means the school district is no longer under a federal desegregation order and no longer has to report to the court as it relates to this order.
The order was implemented in 1970 and spelled out the details of how TISD would integrate - which schools would house which grades; which streets would be zoned to which schools; and how the reassignment of teachers would be implemented.
In more recent years being under the order has meant that each time the district wanted to build a new school, create a magnet school or adjust an attendance zone, it had to seek permission to do so from a federal judge.
District officials have said although the order was very much needed when it was implemented, it has fulfilled its purpose.
They have said the order limits the freedom and flexibility TISD has to adapt its school system to best meet all students’ needs. Without it, they say, the district would continue to educate all students equitably regardless of race.
However, those opposed to the lifting of the order have said the district still has much work to do to eliminate a dual school system.
TISD must hire more African-American teachers and administrators, they said. It must create greater diversity among the student populations on all campuses. And it must improve the academic achievements of its African-American students.
