E. A. Hanushek analyzed the possibility that the St. Louis (Missouri) school district could operate a quality school system with the resources it would get under the state's transition plan that would phase out state financial support for school desegregation. The witness projected no adverse effect on the quality of education in the city. (SLD)

Jonathan Kozol has made a good living talking with students. His books chronicle travels among poor, minority children, most of them African Americans in struggling public schools. In the four decades that Kozol, now 70, has been writing books--11 so far--his message has hardly wavered: minority children are unsuccessful because rich, white…

IN TWO SEPARATE ARTICLES, TWO VIEWS OF ABILITY GROUPING ARE DISCUSSED. THE FIRST MAINTAINS THAT FOR ECONOMIC REASONS TAX-SUPPORTED EDUCATION MUST GROUP STUDENTS FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES, WHICH MAY BE DONE ACCORDING TO ABILITY OR TO AGE. ABILITY GROUPING IS DEFENSIBLE AS AN EDUCATIONAL PRACTICE WHEN IT IS BASED ON MEASURABLE ACHIEVEMENT. ALL…

This report comprises a critical analysis of research in the area of the disadvantaged student, mostly on population characteristics and on educational programs offered them. Much of the research on such factors as genetic and environmental influences, verbal ability, motivation, school achievement, attrition rate, demographic characteristics,…

In this paper we summarize the findings from five separate papers, with the goal of providing a more complete picture than is normally possible in a single paper, of the extent to which the variation in teacher characteristics contributes to minority achievement gaps. All five papers are based on a rich administrative data set that includes…

Introduces six articles on interventions, practices, beliefs, and contexts designed to facilitate early adolescents' school achievement and overall development. The articles focus on middle school reform, separate schooling for African American males, ability grouping, teacher roles, interdisciplinary programs, and the role of cooperation and…

The history of the public schooling of African Americans during legalized segregation has focused almost exclusively on the inferior education that African American students received. In the national memory, African Americans have been victims of Whites who questioned the utility of providing Blacks with anything more than a rudimentary education…

This paper reviews the current state of knowledge on desegregation in the nation's schools. It discusses justifications for and definitions of desegregation. It attempts to answer the following questions: What progress has been attained in the desegregation of schools? What have been the consequences? Which practices have been successful? What…

This evaluation of the Emergency School Aid Act (ESAA) Program in the District of Columbia public schools addresses four general issues: (1) the extent to which the program was implemented as planned; (2) the extent of participation by identified target populations; (3) assessments of the program by participating professional and other adult…

Describes the rationale behind the efforts of the Black community in Milwaukee (Wisconsin) to establish an independent and separate Black school system. Supports the option of attending racially segregated schools in an effort to improve the academic achievement of Black students. (FMW)

This article provides an overview of America's urban population based on the 2000 Census and the implications of increasing cultural diversity for urban public schools. It addresses three basic questions: 1. What does America's population look like at the beginning of the 21st century? 2. What challenges do children and their families face in this…

Segregation has been part of the cultural design of American society from the pre-industrial rural period to the present, post-industrial urban period. This paper, however, is concerned with learning within contemporary school settings. Ethnic segregation is one major type of group separation within American schools and within the society.…

This paper asserts that a campaign of "distortions and lies" about educational vouchers is being conducted by opponents of expanded educational options for low-income parents. It suggests that aspects of the voucher debate are subject to frequent distortion, refuting myths that are being spread. These focus on such issues as: overall admission…

Discusses the sociology of education, including race relations and school segregation and desegregation, and critiques the report of D. J. Armor. The adverse effects of school segregation, and the beneficial effects, including economic consequences, of desegregation are outlined. (SLD)

Recently, reflections on the progress since the 1954 decision in "Brown v. Board of Education" and the challenges confronting those who believed in "Brown" occupy much of the author's daily thinking. Many of the current and recent past education problems and issues are connected generally and specifically to issues of school desegregation: (1)…