In this article, the authors discuss the formulation, provisions, and initial impact of the Texas Ten Percent Plan, which is often contrasted to affirmative action as a mechanism for achieving diversity on college campuses. They argue that although no evidence suggests that the plan will be as successful as affirmative action, it could potentially increase the proportion of minority and low-income students admitted to Texas public universities. This prospect is most likely if the affected communities build an efficacious cross-racial political coalition for quality education. The plan's main weaknesses mirror those of previous programs designed to redress racial discrimination. Most notably, the plan revises college admissions criteria to admit a percentage of minority and poor White students without addressing many of the problems concerning inferior education at the K-12 levels for these populations.
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