New York State’s schools are considered some of the most segregated in the United States. In looking for ways to change that, education policymakers recently asked students to weigh in.   

“I have never, ever had a white classmate,” a New York City student told the state’s Board of Regents last July. “[N]ow that I’m going to college I have to, you know, adapt. I’m sure it’s a whole different ball game.”

This week, student voices will again be heard on the subject. Thursday marks the 64th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision banning segregation. The student-led group Teens Take Charge is planning a day of action in New York City. They’ve invited policymakers to join them in their high schools for “A Day in Our Shoes.” 

Students face a variety of challenges when they attend racially isolated schools, as the story and graphics we’ve put together for you today explain. More than six decades after the Brown decision, the US is still struggling with how to prioritize making education equal for all students.

With segregation on the rise, we wanted to see how different communities are responding to it and what progress they are making. We will be sharing what we’ve found in an occasional series called Learning Together, which launches with our story today. We hope you’ll follow along as we explore an issue that is at the heart of a democratic society.

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