The Topeka Plan

The Topeka Plan was a strategy proposed in the 1960s aimed at desegregating public schools in the United States, specifically in Topeka, Kansas, and surrounding areas. It involved reorganizing school districts and transportation to allow students to attend schools outside their designated neighborhoods, promoting integration without closing schools or forcing busing. The plan sought voluntary cooperation from districts and communities to achieve racial balance. While it aimed to address segregation pragmatically, it faced legal and political challenges and was part of broader efforts during the Civil Rights Movement to ensure equal educational opportunities for all students regardless of race.