Equal Educational Opportunity and Nondiscrimination for Minority Students: Federal Enforcement of Title VI in Ability Grouping Practices. Equal Educational Opportunity Project Series, Volume IV

This report evaluates the efforts of the U.S. Department of Education and its Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to enforce Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in public elementary and secondary education programs based on ability grouping and tracking practices. It evaluates and analyzes OCR's implementation, compliance, and enforcement efforts. In this report, the commission specifically focuses on issues relating to the development and implementation of education programs for and placement of minority students in education programs. It examines some of the present-day barriers and inequities that prevent students with limited-English proficiency from having an equal opportunity to participate in education programs, to maximize their learning potential, and to enhance their education and career opportunities. It discusses other federal laws affecting minority students in public elementary and secondary education (for example, the Magnet Schools Assistance Act) to the extent they relate to civil-rights enforcement by the OCR. The report describes several strategies and programs that address and affect school policy, classroom organization, education curriculum, methods of instruction, parental participation, division of resources, and responsibilities of school personnel. (Contains tables.) (DFR)