NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A federal court hearing is under way to figure out whether the Metro Schools rezoning plan actually encourages students to be resegregated.

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Several families filed a suit against the school district, claiming the strategy put their children into schools that didn't have as many resources.

Dr. William Rock, a civil rights law professor in New York, was called by the plaintiffs to testify as an expert witness. He was noted for helping to desegreate schools in Washington, D.C., and Rochester, NY.

Rock testified after looking closely at Metro Schools' reassignment plan that it's clear the plan had a segregationist effect because it primarily resulted in hundreds of black students being moved into schools that were already predominantly black.

He also testified that, in his opinion, the plan had no educational merit and that the plan's effect appeared deliberate.

Metro school board lawyers said race was never a factor in the rezoning and that the goal was to return kids to their neighborhood schools.

Metro Schools' attorneys are expected to present their proof next week.