It’s been more than five years since the NAACP, the Latino Action Network and other groups sued New Jersey — alleging the state is violating its own constitution and failing its children by letting pervasive segregation in schools fester. 

A few weeks ago, a judge finally handed down a long-awaited ruling that many advocates say just muddied the waters. He acknowledged New Jersey has a responsibility to deal with segregation, but said the plaintiffs hadn’t yet shown it’s a statewide problem. 

Now, as Chalkbeat Newark reports, the parties are heading into mediation. Whatever solution they come up with could have big implications for how New Jersey decides where kids go to school, and who they go to school with.

Catherine Carrera, bureau chief for Chalkbeat Newark, joined WNYC's Tiffany Hanssen to talk about what happens next.