233 F.3d 232 (4th Cir. 2000)

TERRY BELK; DWAYNE COLLINS, on behalf of themselves and the class they represent, Plaintiffs-Appellants,
WILLIAM CAPACCHIONE, Individually and on behalf of Christina Capacchione, a minor; MICHAEL P. GRANT; RICHARD EASTERLING; LAWRENCE GAUVREAU; KAREN BENTLEY; CHARLES THOMPSON; SCOTT C. WILLARD, Plaintiffs-Appellees,
v.
THE CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG BOARD OF EDUCATION; ERIC SMITH, Superintendent, in his official capacity; ARTHUR GRIFFIN, Chairman of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board, in his official capacity, Defendants.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION; NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION, Amici Curiae.
WILLIAM CAPACCHIONE, Individually and on behalf of Christina Capacchione, a minor; MICHAEL P. GRANT; RICHARD EASTERLING; LAWRENCE GAUVREAU; KAREN BENTLEY; CHARLES THOMPSON; SCOTT C. WILLARD, Plaintiffs-Appellees,
and
TERRY BELK; DWAYNE COLLINS, on behalf of themselves and the class they represent, Plaintiffs,
v.
THE CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG BOARDOF EDUCATION; ERIC SMITH, Superintendent, in his official capacity; ARTHUR GRIFFIN, Chairman of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board, in his official capacity, Defendants-Appellants.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION; NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION, Amici Curiae.
WILLIAM CAPACCHIONE, Individually and on behalf of Christina Capacchione, a minor; MICHAEL P. GRANT; RICHARD EASTERLING; LAWRENCE GAUVREAU; KAREN BENTLEY; CHARLES THOMPSON; SCOTT C. WILLARD, Plaintiffs-Appellees,
and
TERRY BELK; DWAYNE COLLINS, on behalf of themselves and the class they represent, Plaintiffs,
v.
THE CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG BOARD OF EDUCATION; ERIC SMITH, Superintendent, in his official capacity; ARTHUR GRIFFIN, Chairman of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board, in his official capacity, Defendants-Appellants.
v.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Amici Curiae.
WILLIAM CAPACCHIONE, Individually and on behalf of Christina Capacchione, a minor; MICHAEL P. GRANT; RICHARD EASTERLING; LAWRENCE GAUVREAU; KAREN BENTLEY; CHARLES THOMPSON; SCOTT C. WILLARD, Plaintiffs-Appellees,
and
TERRY BELK; DWAYNE COLLINS, on behalf of themselves and the class they represent, Plaintiffs,
v.
THE CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG BOARDOF EDUCATION; ERIC SMITH, Superintendent, in his official capacity; ARTHUR GRIFFIN, Chairman of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board, in his official capacity, Defendants-Appellants.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION; NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION, Amici Curiae.

No. 99-2389 No. 99-2391 No. 00-1098 No. 00-1432.

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS, FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT.

Argued: June 7, 2000.
Decided: November 30, 2000.