Program for African-American students disbanded after criticism of separate field trip

Program ends after field trip for black students

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — A program for African-American elementary students in Michigan has been disbanded after a field trip to meet a black rocket scientist that excluded children of other races.

Ann Arbor Schools spokeswoman Liz Margolis tells AnnArbor.com that the “Lunch Bunch” program at Dicken Elementary has ended.

Officials have said the field trip by 30 African-American students was intended to inspire them as part of a bigger push to close a persistent gap in test scores between black and white children.

But when the students — mostly fifth-graders — returned, they were met with boos from some classmates who didn’t go. Parents of the excluded classmates also complained.

The district is also investigating whether the activity violated a state law banning preferential treatment based on race.