Associated Press - September 16, 2009 8:44 AM ET
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Attorneys for the state and for the Pulaski County Special and North Little Rock school districts say the schools should be released from federal court supervision.
The attorneys submitted reports Tuesday in response to questions from U.S. District Judge Brian Miller. Miller had asked whether the districts have reached unitary - or desegregated - status and, if not, what are the impediments.
The Little Rock district was declared unitary in 2007.
Assistant Attorney General Scott Richardson says the state believes all that's needed is court hearings to gather facts demonstrating the districts are in "substantial compliance." He also says the state should be allowed to stop payments of about $60 million a year to all three districts and that the money could be used to "motivate" the districts to come into compliance.
A status hearing in the desegregation case is scheduled for Sept. 30.
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