Durham Public Schools are making some strides. The gap between African-American and Hispanic students and their white and Asian classmates in both math and reading shrank last year. But a two-digit difference between percentages of students passing remains.

So, what now? Durham Public Schools and the Durham Association of Educators are developing a proposal for a national grant to improve the academic success of African-American males, the group identified as needing help the most. They'll discuss the grant at a Kitchen Table Conversation Tuesday from 7 to 8:45 p.m. at W.G. Pearson Magnet Elementary, 3501 Fayetteville St.

If they get the National Educators Association Foundation grant, the school system would get money to develop new strategies to close achievement gaps between African-American males and their peers.

But is the problem bigger than the schools?

In advance of Tuesday's conversation, The Durham News asked community leaders what needs to be done. We also want to know what you think. Send a letter to the editor to editor@nando.com or e-mail your thoughts to me at sadia.latifi@nando.com.