Affirmative action programs have successfully redistributed education and economic resources to women and minorities without serious consequences to efficiency, say two noted economists writing in the September 2000 issue of the Journal of Economic Literature. In "Assessing Affirmative Action," authors Harry Holzer of Georgetown University and David Neumark of Michigan State University, provide an exhaustive review and analysis of more than 200 scientific studies of affirmative action.

The economists base their conclusions on the results of longitudinal studies, audits, national surveys, labor statistics and so on. This is a notable contribution to a debate that frequently rests on anecdotal arguments, such as many of those William G. Bowen and Derek Bok relied upon in their 1998 book, The Shape of the River: Long-term Consequences of Considering Race in College and University Admissions. Holzer and Neumark also approach the issue from the perspective of economic performance, not just social policy.

Taken together, their data show that discrimination is the most sound empirical explanation for historical wage and achievement gaps. The economists show that discrimination is an ongoing problem. Finally, they rely on well-established research findings to conclude that efforts to improve the status of women and minorities in education, business and government do not exact a significant toll on economic efficiency.

After 30 years of affirmative action, say the authors, the evidence shows that, where practiced, the programs boost the participation of women and minorities anywhere from 10 percent to 15 percent. The 200 studies reviewed show no evidence of weaker educational qualifications or job performance for women beneficiaries than for men. And in instances where the beneficiaries of affirmative action do have weaker credentials, they still perform about as well as non-minorities. With remedial training and support, the differences almost disappear.

The study comes at a time when confusion and ambivalence over affirmative action reigns in many quarters. Legal challenges and state ballot initiatives are limiting the avenues that colleges and businesses can use to achieve the goal of truly diverse campuses and workplaces. Yet polls also show that the public supports the goals of affirmative action in education and the workplace. Clearly, it is a policy that will need to continue evolving.

Reforms that work show their worth in urban districts

A new AFT report shows that entire school districts can improve when policymakers match high academic standards with smaller classes, research-proven programs, quality professional development and other critical supports. "Doing What Works: Improving Big City School Districts," which was released at an Oct. 17 press conference in Washington, D.C., identifies several school systems that boast a sustained record of districtwide progress for three years or more. The AFT report also highlights 14 districts that are taking the first steps along this proven path to improvement.

"What is important here is that these are districtwide results, not just individual schools," said AFT president Sandra Feldman. "We're not here to declare victory. We still have a tremendous amount of work to do. But we believe it's doable--and it's being done."

The successes cited in the report come at a time when some have pushed for private school vouchers, for-profit ventures and even the abandonment of public education. These ideological attacks run counter to what's really happening in public schools across America, Feldman pointed out. "Imagine the progress that could be made if every school district focused its efforts and resources on doing what works for all children."

Common threads bind the featured districts, which include Baltimore, Chicago, Corpus Christi, Minneapolis, New York City and Washington, D.C. They include putting high standards in place, implementing proven programs, improving professional development, reducing class size, providing extra help for students, ensuring safe and orderly schools, and cooperation among stakeholders in the districts.

This approach is "a blueprint for success," Hartford, Conn., superintendent Anthony Amato told reporters at the press conference. For years the lowest-performing district in the state, Hartford has recently been a stronghold of union-district cooperation on school reform aimed at boosting literacy through research-based practice with such proven programs as Success for All, the AFT report notes.

This year, Hartford students made double-digit gains in nearly every category on state reading and math tests, and the district is engaged "in a dialogue based on the assumption that what we're doing now works," Amato said.

State boards are making governance changes

Brace for a new wave of higher education governance changes, says the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research. In a study of higher education trends in the 50 states, the center found that during the past decade, 11 states have implemented changes to the coordinating or governing boards that oversee public higher education. And more states are contemplating such changes. This is the biggest wave of reform, says the center, since 47 states established their governing systems between 1950 and 1970.

Accountability is another word buzzing around the state houses, says the center. Governors are demanding more from public higher education, and the state legislatures are linking funds to performance. States like Kansas, New Jersey and New Mexico are starting small. Colorado, on the other hand, will base 75 percent of the new money it awards on performance factors such as graduation rates, class size and faculty productivity. In South Carolina, the state commission will look at 37 indicators in deciding how to spread out 100 percent of its funds.

Another trend many states are bracing for is an explosion in the population of college attendees. Full-time college enrollment has increased 11 percent since 1990 and is predicted to go up another 19 percent in the next decade. Arizona, Florida, Nevada and North Carolina are expected to feel the strongest impact of this enrollment surge.