There are inequalities in the educational experiences of blacks and whites. Black students tend to have lower grade point averages than do white students. Also, they are suspended more often and for longer spells than whites. Fewer blacks remain in secondary school beyond the compulsory attendance age, fewer graduate from high school, and fewer attend college and graduate school. A recent examination of the nation's 17 year olds revealed that 92 percent of white children but only 58 percent of black children were functionally literate. Partly as a result of educational inequalities, postschooling experiences of blacks and whites are very different. The unemployment rate among blacks is nearly twice that of whites. Even with governmental cash assistance included as income, more than one fourth of all black families remained in poverty in 1975, compared with less than 8 percent of all white families. This situation is nevertheless an improvement over that of recent years. The differences between the number of years of schooling completed by blacks and whites has been narrowing. While there are no accurate data available on degrees attained, one indicator suggests that the percentage of blacks completing four or more years of college is now twice what it was 15 years ago. It is concluded that government programs have played an important role in improving educational opportunities for blacks. (Author/GC)