Houston area schools don't expect ruling to have major impact

School leaders in the Houston area said Thursday they're not expecting a shake-up in how they assign students to campuses after a Supreme Court decision that limits the use of race. ...

Several experts said that school districts, including Galveston, that are under court orders to desegregate should not be affected by the ruling.

But, experts said, districts not under such orders could have to revise their policies regarding student enrollment and transfers, depending on how race is considered.

"This is a big deal," said Samuel Bagenstos, a professor at Washington University Law School, "because the law today is much more restrictive of what school districts could do yesterday or over the last 35 years.

"But it's not the end of the world for school integration plans."

•	Houston area schools don't expect ruling to have major impact Houston Chronicle, Thursday, June 28, 2007 Byline: Ericka Mellon