District coordination of educational support services for students below grade level: Problems and opportunities

For more than 40 years, the United States public education system has invested significant resources in educational programs to support ethnic and racial minority, poor, English learner, and disabled students in meeting or exceeding grade level standards. Historically developed and administered as separate, uncoordinated programs, these support services have not fulfilled their mandate. School district offices taking responsibility for coordination of these programs may greatly facilitate the ability of the school district and school sites to more effectively support all students in meeting or exceeding grade level standards. This coordination requires the development of a mandate and a comprehensive plan for changing practices across all departments at the district and site levels.