ABSTRACT
American public schools are rapidly becoming more diverse racially and ethnically. From 2002 to 2012 the percentage of White students in public elementary and secondary schools fell from 59% to 51%; by 2024, White students, for the first time ever, are predicted at 46% to no longer be the majority public school population (National Center for Education Statistics, 2015). Black student enrollment decreased from 17% in 2002 to 16% in 2012, while Hispanic enrollment increased from 18% to 24%, Asian/Pacific Islander enrollment from 4% to 5%, and enrollment of students identifying as two or more races from negligible to 3% (National Center for Education Statistics, 2015). In addition, the percentage of students identified as English language learners (ELLs) increased from 8.7% in 2002 to 9.2% in 2012 (National Center for Education Statistics).
