“Trends in Levels of Academic Achievement of Blacks and Other Minorities”, 1988-07-01 (; similar):
Race and ethnic differences in measures of achievement, information, and award of educational credentials are reviewed starting with 1960 Project Talent data. Data are more consistently available for blacks and whites than for other minorities, while accurate identification of the latter groups is made difficult by variability in terminology.
Nevertheless, blacks, Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and American Indians today still have substantial deficits in basic academic skills and information although small gains have been made. Asian Americans have small deficits in verbal skills and small advantages in quantitative skills in comparison to the white majority.
Several kinds of evidence converge to support a description of the deficits as the inadequate learning syndrome (ILS). The ILS social epidemic is as serious in its way as the AIDS epidemic. Targeted support of at least the same magnitude as with AIDS is required for research and development with respect to ILS. Remedies that are typically discussed are superficial and ineffective.