Acting on a county-wide initiative by the Miami-Dade Public School System, Krop will implement programs to increase the representation of minorities, specifically blacks, in honors and advanced level courses.

While the overall representation of minorities in advanced courses has increased by 12 percent since 1996, the representation of blacks has declined from 18 percent to 16 percent.

To counteract this regression, Krop has begun development on a “Unitary Status Compliance Initiative,” a unit comprised of teachers, administrators, and students aimed at increasing the representation of minorities through support programs and more effective methods of student evaluation.

“You have to make allowances for children with learning differences or for children who are culturally diverse,” Krop’s Gifted Department Chairperson and District 2 Coordinator for the USCC Ruth Smith said. “These students need extra support. That is the purpose of the USCC, to level the playing field.”

Recent studies suggest that many black students are at a disadvantage.

While black students make up 28 percent of the total student population, over 35 percent of these students qualify for and receive free or reduced lunch. Students from the lowest economic quartile make up 9 percent of the population in advanced courses while students from the highest make up almost half.

“You can’t talk about intelligence without talking about race and socioeconomic background,” Smith said. “It’s not sink or swim. These black students are simply not coming to school with the same resources.”

There is also concern that black students who score highly on standardized testing and fulfill the requirements to enter higher level courses are discouraged from doing so because it makes them feel uncomfortable.

“You’re going to feel uncomfortable if you don’t see anyone like you in a class,” black student Alan Beauchamp said. “People want to be with their friends.”

To assist minority students who feel isolated, Krop plans to create a 7th period “Honors Humanities” course. The course would function as a source of study groups and peer support for minority students.

Still, Smith feels the ultimate solution lies in the home of life of minority students.

“Education has been such a taboo. There’s not a lot of emphasis on taking these higher level courses,” Smith said. “Parents need to step up and make sure their children have the right respect for education, otherwise we’re just spinning our wheels.”