Four steps schools districts should take to increase opportunities for black students.

Address Funding Inequities

School districts with higher percentages of low-income students of color have limited funds. As a result, many schools operate with outdated textbooks and inferior materials. Examine your state's funding structure -- is it fair?

Keep Schools Small

According to researchers, schools with fewer than 400 students offer educational advantages, such as increased academic support, high standards of achievement, increased community involvement, better working and learning environments, and close-knit classrooms.

Keep Classes Small

Smaller class sizes help teachers better meet the educational needs of children in racially segregated schools.

Support Professional Development

Teacher education and experience are among the most significant predictors of a student's performance. Attract high-quality teachers to high-poverty schools by offering incentives such as scholarships and loan forgiveness. Retain teachers of color who serve as important role models for all children, especially students of color.

Source: The Children, Youth, and Family Consortium of the University of Minnesota in a paper prepared in April 2006; EracismNY, The Future Of Public School Education.