Jefferson County Schools launches ‘Majority to Minority’ program aimed at combating segregation in schools

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Jefferson County Schools are taking a new step toward equity and opportunity in the classroom.

As part of a federal desegregation case dating back more than 60 years, the district is now implementing a “Majority to Minority” transfer program — a move aimed at aligning with a recent consent decree issued by a federal judge this past March.

The program, launching this fall, allows students to transfer from a school where their race is in the majority to another within the district where they would be in the minority, provided there’s space available. District leaders say it’s a critical effort to both meet the court’s order and give families more access to strong academic programs across the county.

“We provide choice in our system,” said Superintendent Dr. Walter Gonsoulin. “And it allows our parents and our children to say, ‘I live in this particular zone, but I like some of the programs that are going on in another zone at another school.’ So there’s a process that we have that allows them to choose between the two.”

At a community meeting held at Gardendale High School, several parents came to hear more about the program.

While many declined to speak on camera, some shared their thoughts privately. Reactions ranged from full support to skepticism. A few questioned how the changes would affect students who had already transferred to other schools, and one parent even described the program as “segregation under a new name.”

Dr. Gonsoulin pushed back on that idea, explaining that the program is built to do exactly the opposite.

“And promote desegregation, so we’ve decided to do that wrapped around offering opportunities and giving people a choice to choose those particular programs to go to school, and then that allows for desegregation,” Gonsoulin said. “The ultimate goal is to provide an excellent and quality education for our students, so we’re able to do both at the same time.”

Applications for the Majority to Minority program are now open and will be accepted through June 2. Students approved for transfers will be prioritized under the new policy.

To learn more about the program and how to apply, click here.

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