What was Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education (1971) about, and what did it authorize?

• A. School desegregation via busing; permitted public school districts to use bus transportation to achieve integration.
• B. Private school vouchers to circumvent desegregation
• C. School choice without desegregation mandates
• D. Federal funding tied to school prayer

Answer: (A)

Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education (1971) centers on how to remedy school racial segregation. The Supreme Court upheld busing as a legitimate tool to desegregate public schools, approving plans that move students to different schools—sometimes across district lines—to create integrated student populations. It gave federal courts broad authority to supervise and implement these remedies, including redrawing attendance zones and using transportation to achieve integration. This ruling makes clear that once a district is under a desegregation plan, busing can be used as part of the strategy to eliminate the effects of segregation. It does not involve private school vouchers, general school-choice policies unrelated to desegregation, or funding tied to school prayer.