NOTABLE PRESCRIPTIONS
Research data shows that when compared to students of other ethnic and racial backgrounds, Black students benefit more when placed in classes with fewer numbers of students, according to a study by Dr. Alan B. Krueger, a professor of economics and public affairs at Princeton University, and Diane Whitmore, a doctoral candidate at Princeton.
"Black students gain eight to 10 points [on standardized tests] by being in small classes," Krueger told the conference audience.
Krueger explained Black students are more likely to attend schools "where classmates are disruptive," and that this may account for the increased benefit of smaller class sizes.
One of the research teams explored the strategic role the federal government might play in targeting funding and other resources to states. Dr. David Grissmer, a senior management scientist at the RAND Institute, and Ann Flanagan, an education consultant, recommended strategic funding initiatives based on findings that targeted funding can raise student achievement levels.
The team recommended that federal spending be made to target the disparities between states where inequality is most prevalent. For instance, Southern states spend the least on education and the achievement scores are low for all ethnic and racial groups in those states.
Second, the team said the federal government can target central cities where Blacks are performing poorly in urban schools. Third, the federal government can help improve the overall quality of teachers nationwide by establishing programs to attract stronger students to the profession. The federal government also can develop a loan forgiveness initiative, targeted teaching scholarships and a program similar to the GI Bill for the teaching  profession.