Madison School District tests out anti-racist microschool

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Madison School District is testing out a microschool. It's meant to disrupt system inequalities for Black and Brown students.

The Anti-racist Learning Lab, or microschool, was created in response to a survey of district students.

"There was a lack of a sense of belonging, particularly for students of color," said Maxine McKinney de Royston, PhD/co-designer of the microschool. "The most upsetting to me was they didn't feel like it was a place they could learn."

There are just four students and one teacher in one room, discussing racial profiling and discrimination.

The district says it's using federal Covid funding to pay for the program because "the pandemic has disproportionately impacted racially minoritized communities in Madison."

The microschool will need approval to continue in the next school year.