Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Equity And Excellence Commission Report Warns Of Failure To Right Unfair U.S. Schools

Equity And Excellence Commission Report Warns Of Failure To Right Unfair U.S. Schools:


Equity And Excellence Commission Report Warns Of Failure To Right Unfair U.S. Schools

Advocates have shouted about inequalities in the U.S. education system for decades, with issues ranging from the availability of good teachers to the amount of money spent on schools with poor students. The gaps in standardized test scores between minorities and white students, and between rich and poor children, are longstanding and well-known facts.

Today, a diverse group of 27 education experts, economists and civil-rights leaders convened by the U.S. Education Department and with the support of the White House released a report recommending how to help remedy these problems. The report was commissioned by a congressional appropriation written by Rep. Michael Honda (D-Calif.). The Tuesday release comes one year after the report was initially expected, and follows months of torturous meetings and squabbling between union representatives and budget hawks.

The report's authors say that despite the failure of previous attempts to correct this gaping inequity, this time will