Despite the rapid growth and popularity of the magnet school movement, little systematic research has been conducted on questions of vital importance in assessing the movement's impact on the quality of educational opportunities in big-city school districts. There are certain issues that are important and deserve immediate attention from educators concerned with the potential of magnet schools for improving and equalizing educational opportunity. For example, it is important to obtain information on the home environments of magnet school students as well as on their social class backgrounds. A determination on whether magnet schools are producing academic achievement gains, with emphasis on the achievement of students formerly attending predominantly poverty schools should also be made. Another important issue to be considered is whether full time enrollment should be required for purposes of desegregation in magnet schools. This issue is critical in considering the prospects for voluntary metropolitan desegregation. In addition, an inquiry should be made into the potential role magnet schools can play in the renewal of central city neighborhoods. (Author/EB)