This paper discusses the struggle of African Americans for more educational options (a battle also faced by other racial and ethnic groups). The debate is about who should have the primary power to determine where low-income, mostly African American students should attend school. The fundamental problem is that parents without the power to make…

A comprehensive national plan is needed to reverse the declining enrollment and employment of blacks in higher education. Over the last decade, government policies such as cuts in financial aid and the erosion of Head Start, child care, and other programs that benefit the poor have contributed to the negatives trends in minority enrollment. In…

This paper describes how a geosciences summer program for 50 Hispanic and Black eighth graders with high potential from at-risk backgrounds, planned and executed activities designed to empower these youth by teaching them strategies to develop effective "voice," while concurrently nurturing abilities and inspiring significant career aspirations.…

A group of three conference papers, all addressing effective instructional programs, is presented in this document. The first paper, entitled "The Organization--A Viable Instrument for Progress" (Barbara Sizemore), addresses the subject of high-achieving, predominantly black elementary schools. Routines in these schools not present in…