Courts and Kids

Over the past thirty-five years, federal courts have dramatically retreated from actively promoting school desegregation. In the meantime, state courts have taken up the mantle of promoting the vision of educational equity originally articulated in "Brown v. Board of Education." "Courts and Kids" is the first detailed analysis of why the state courts have taken on this active role and how successful their efforts have been.aSince 1973, litigants have challenged the constitutionality of education finance systems in forty-five states on the grounds that they deprive many poor and minority students of adequate access to a sound education. While the plaintiffs have won in the majority of these cases, the decisions are often branded OC judicial activismOCOOCoa stigma that has reduced their impact. To counter the charge, Michael A. Rebell persuasively defends the courtsOCO authority and responsibility to pursue the goal of educational equity. He envisions their ideal role as supervisory, and in "Courts and Kids" he offers innovative recommendations on how the courts can collaborate with the executive and legislative branches to create a truly democratic educational system."