This article discusses the political nature of urban school districts, the job of the urban school superintendents, and the impact Brown v. Board of Education continues to have on urban school districts. It begins by examining demographic changes experienced in many urban areas since the Brown decision. The article also pays special attention to the impact “White flight,” federal and state education policy, and school takeovers have on the political nature and structure of big-city school districts and their leadership. It concludes with a brief overview of the role parents play in the new politics of urban education and some issues current and future urban school superintendents must consider as they accept these positions.
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