As a person of color who grew up in Connecticut, I'm very familiar with the racial disparities in our school system. I still dream of a day when the quality of public education does not depend on one's socio-economic surroundings. Unfortunately, my desire for educational equality is not shared among school board members in Greater Danbury communities when it comes to providing people of color access to better quality education.

Recently, a settlement was reached in a decades-long civil lawsuit that shed light on the educational inequality dilemma that has plagued people of color in the state for generations. Among the set of education initiatives that were agreed upon to address academic deficiencies for minority children was the expansion of the Open Choice program. This statewide initiative allows students in low-performance schools in urban settings to attend classes in suburban communities. 

In 2021, the state General Assembly approved over one million dollars in funds to Open Choice, beyond its initial startup cities of Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport, by inviting Danbury and Norwalk to participate in the initiative. The state will absorb transportation costs while communities that participate in the program share educational expenses.

Despite declining enrollment figures in areas such as New Fairfield and Ridgefield, it appears that wealthier communities in Greater Danbury are turning a cold shoulder to the plan to expand diversity in their schools.

New Fairfield's Board of Education recently voted unanimously against participating in the program despite the town's racial makeup of 97 percent white, 0.39 percent African American, and 3 percent Hispanic or Latino. Last year, the board presented a budget proposal that included eliminating school staff due to declining school enrollment.

Like New Fairfield, Ridgefield has seen a decline in school enrollment, and while the town's First Selectman initially praised the program, the school board has yet to bring the topic up for a vote. Open Choice supporters in Ridgefield have been critical of the spread of misinformation and mischaracterizations about the program at town meetings and have written opinion pieces to combat the untruths.

The rejection of the Open Choice program by towns in Greater Danbury has resulted in the state announcing a delay of the plan for the city. This decision is a terrible blow to low-income families in Danbury who believe that the quality of education should not depend on one's home address. 

Wealthy communities should cease their resistance to diversity and acknowledge the benefit of programs like Open Choice. It's time for residents to work for the common good of breaking the chains of one of the oldest forms of segregation in the state.