Chapter 15: One Size Does Not Fit All: An Examination of Issues in Enhancing the Academic Achievement of African American Pre-College Students

Although history clearly indicates that elementary, middle, and secondary educational institutions have consistently failed to educate African American children adequately, the initial school reform efforts of the early 1980s made little attempt to address their needs. Within the last decade, an increasing number of school reforms have been specifically directed at African American children, especially those residing in poor urban communities. While some of these efforts have demonstrated success in enhancing African American children’s academic achievement, others have not. The overall picture is mixed because of a variety of factors. Some reforms are short-lived or are governed more by political and financial exigencies than the needs of poor African American children. Many other reforms are not accompanied by adequate research that documents and evaluates their implementation.