Leaders of Urban-Suburban are looking to expand the initiative's mission statement to include more students. The program's original charge in 1964 was to reduce racial isolation.
Now, Jeff Crane, the Superintendent of West Irondequoit Central School District, says they are looking ahead toward a more dynamic purpose.
"We think that our mission statement should read in the following way: to decrease racial isolation, to de-concentrate poverty, and to enhance opportunities for students in the city and suburban districts."
This could mean white students could be eligible for the program, as well as suburban students hoping to attend city schools. Crane says he hopes new guidelines will help the program grow.
"There's eight inter-district transfer programs in the United States and the Urban-Suburban program in Rochester is the oldest, but its also the smallest."
Crane says that by not changing the fundamental charge of the program, and just adding to it, he and other leaders don't believe they will have to get state approval. He says he hopes the new guidelines will take effect by the 2016-2017 school year.
