Fearing a federal court in Oklahoma might end a state-financed merit-scholarship program targeted by a discrimination lawsuit, black legislators passed a bill making the program race and gender neutral. State regents are criticized for failing to develop effective policy to remedy past discrimination. (MSE)

On October 23, 1996, members of the Congressional Black Caucus visited schools in several cities and spoke to students, to garner support for federal funding of education. The event was held in conjunction with the National Commission for African American Education, in response to recent proposals to eliminate the Education Department and reduce…

Profiles Congressman Chaka Fattah, a Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) native developing federal legislation designed to motivate low-income students to complete secondary education so they qualify for aid for higher education and to improve these students' access to support programs. Outlines the legislator's background, political career, and work at…

An interview with Senator Bill Bradley (Democrat of New Jersey) covers such issues as the legislator's candid confrontation of racial issues, racial bias and education, higher education's role in social change, the value of campus racial and ethnic caucuses, and payment of revenue-generating college athletes. (MSE)

The new director of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, which represents 113 historically black colleges and universities, responds to questions about the Association's future relationship with Congress, the effects of recent court cases on prospects for minority students' access to higher education, and leadership…

The November 1996 national election pits different education philosophies against each other; republicans want more local control, fewer rules, and greater school choice, while democrats talk of more federal funding while balancing the budget. The future of the Higher Education Act, African American influence in Congress, education committee…