Those gaps also grew smaller as children grew older; this is, the longer they stayed in Catholic schools, the closer minority students got to advantaged white students in achievement.

The second group, less advantaged students in a largely black urban school, has not.

The remaining children, through no fault of their own, will be left in public schools that are deprived of financing and more advantaged students.

Community colleges have long been seen as salvage operations, giving the least advantaged students - people like Nilda Ortiz of Homestead, Fla., - a chance to grab the American Dream.

It seems to me this is a recipe for widening the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students.

The research suggested that schemes to expand home computer access would lead to wider gaps between test scores of advantaged and disadvantaged students.

As a result, our students have won in demanding academic competitions against some of the best, most advantaged students in the country.

Even in a healthy economy, we should improve the ability of less advantaged students to compete for better jobs.

If the educational fare of the seriously disadvantaged student is the same as the 'regular education' given to the advantaged student, those serious disadvantages will not be addressed.

"It is trying to find some way for the wealthy districts to keep spending more on their advantaged students and still get out of the court order," he added.