Judge: Charter schools don't compromise desegregation settlement

LITTLE ROCK, AR - A federal judge rejected claims Thursday by the Little Rock School District that the growth of open enrollment charter schools violates the settlement agreement in the long running desegregation case.

In a 30-page ruling federal judge D. Price Marshall says "no reasonable fact finder could conclude that the State is in material breach of the parties' 1989 Settlement Agreement as to open-enrollment charter schools in Pulaski County."

The ruling releases charter schools as a party in the long running desegregation case.

Little Rock and North Little Rock schools have been declared unitary in the case. The Pulaski County Special School District is still seeking to obtain unitary status.

The judge also issued a separate order saying a hearing is needed to decide whether the state should be released from the 1989 settlement agreement.

The general assembly appropriates approximately $70 million a year in funding as part of the desegregation settlement.

Governor Mike Beebe has said he would like to eliminate the remaining grocery tax provided the state meets revenue goals, which includes ending payments to the three Pulaski County school districts.