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RALEIGH—Supporters say attendance “zones” could be a great compromise to Wake County Public Schools great debate, offering neighborhood schools with diversity built into every zone.

The consultant who designed the Controlled Choice method, Michael Alves, met with members of the NAACP on Wednesday to discuss the idea. Here is how the plan works:
The county would be divided into attendance zones, and each zone should reflect the county as a whole. Then, parents pick which school in their zone they want their child to attend.

Alves said it is great for diversity.

“You can promote voluntary diversity, voluntary integration,” said Alves.

Some people have said this is a great compromise, allowing students to attend schools in their community, while still taking diversity into account to create the attendance zones. But members of the NAACP said if the school board isn't committed to ensuring student diversity, it could still re-segregate schools.

“If you not willing to have diversity as a criterion, you can't create diverse zone. Therefore you can't create high quality, diverse schools,” said Tim Tyson, NAACP member.

Supporters of the student diversity policy are not buying the so-called “compromise plan” just yet.