Cerritos : 2 Kindergarten Classes Changed for Racial Balance

Officials have rearranged two kindergarten classes at Carver Elementary School in Cerritos after a parent said the classes were segregated. Calethia Henderson, who is black, had complained that nearly all minority kindergartners were placed in the same class. Henderson accused Carver administrators of intentional segregation.

Officials of the ABC Unified School District denied the allegations of segregation. Supt. Larry Lucas said the classes were not as segregated as Henderson claimed, and that the class assignments had been made according to the results of test scores.

He agreed, however, that the classes were racially imbalanced. He said the needed adjustments were made in the two classes shortly after the district learned of the situation.