Why Chicago's New Graduation Requirement Exacerbates Inequality

The Chicago School Board recently approved Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plan to make a high school diploma contingent on something more than completing coursework. Starting in 2020, a public school must also prove that they have secured a job or an acceptance to a college, a trade apprenticeship, a gap year program, or the military.

Advocates say it’s a good way to make sure all of Chicago’s kids are on a path to a productive future. But critics argue that there aren’t enough resources to ensure that the rule doesn’t punish low-income students of color, who generally attend schools that lack the funds of their wealthier, whiter counterparts. Without adequate support, such as guidance counselors, it’s more likely that these disenfranchised students will have a harder time meeting the requirement—thus exacerbating the very inequality that the new rule aims to remedy.