College Board To Expand Equity 2000 Program

By Kathleen Kennedy Manzo

Mounting evidence that a pilot program to prepare more minority and disadvantaged students for college is showing success has prompted the organization that sponsors the SAT to expand its initiative, officials said last week.

A preliminary report by the New York City-based College Board has found that the Equity 2000 project, begun in 1990, has helped to get more students onto a college track. More than 500,000 students at 700 public schools are participating in Fort Worth, Texas; Milwaukee; Nashville, Tenn.; Prince George's County, Md.; Providence, R.I.; and San Jose, Calif.

The project provides support programs for students, professional development for teachers to improve instruction--chiefly in mathematics-- and opportunities for more parental involvement. Although designed to help disadvantaged and minority students, the program targeted all students...