Now is the time for solutions, not ideology

Students come from diverse backgrounds, speak different languages, have different strengths and personal challenges, and have had very different preschool and family experiences. Far too many are denied access to opportunity based on where they live or the color of their skin. It was within this complex context that the authors of the December/January special issue explored ways to improve the education of advanced learners. Nearly every article was critical of the current state of affairs, but more importantly, offered research-based suggestions for moving forward. Further, they offered options intended to achieve the goal of providing challenging education for all students rather than disenfranchising one group at the expense of another. Sadly, this same commitment to evidence and practical progress was not shared in Professor Allison Roda's recent commentary on the December/January issue. We initially struggled to craft this commentary because we had many objections to Roda's arguments and pages of notes on research that strongly rebuts those arguments.