The North Star News, News Report, Posted: Jun 01, 2012

When Dr. Ivory A. Toldson recently spoke to a group of social workers in Philadelphia, he asked them how many black males were enrolled in high school honors programs.

Some of the social workers said they did not think any black boys were enrolled in honors programs. Others said 2 percent.

But according to Toldson, an associate professor with the Counseling and Psychology Program at Howard University, the social workers were clueless. Nationwide, the percentage of black boys enrolled in honors classes is higher than for those enrolled in special education, he said.

“More than 37,000 black boys are enrolled in honors classes, compared with 23,000 who are receiving special education services. Overall, some 14.5 percent of black boys are enrolled in honors classes, compared with 9 percent enrolled in special education,” Toldson told attendees at the second-annual Midwest Black Male Education Conference, which was held May 19 in Chicago.

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