Today’s News & Observer carries a story about why minorities haven’t spoken up more about Wake County’s controversial school busing plan.

We do, however, have national survey data on how minorities view busing, whether based on race or economic diversity, which is the basis of Wake’s policy. The data can be found in the Fall 2008 issue of Education Next, which details results of the second annual national survey of U.S. adults conducted under the auspices of Education Next and the Program on Education Policy and Governance (PEPG) at Harvard University.

The national survey found that the majority of African-Americans and Hispanics surveyed do NOT support busing based on race or economic diversity.

You’ll find the story/data here. Scroll down about 3/4 of the way to the area headlined School Integration, where by the way, Wake County is mentioned. Look at question 14.

Question 14b:

In order to promote school diversity, should school districts be allowed to take the family income of students into account when assigning students to schools?

Results for African-Americans:
Definitely: 9 percent
Probably: 8 percent
Not sure: 31 percent
Probably not: 21 percent
Definitely not: 31 percent

Results for Hispanics:
Definitely: 5 percent
Probably: 12 percent
Not sure: 24 percent
Probably not: 23 percent
Definitely not: 36 percent