Social scientists can make two different types of contributions to school desegregation. One of these is to continue to collaborate with lawyers and judges in the legal proceedings necessary to convert the desegregation ideal into reality. The other is to greatly increase their collaboration with educators to make desegregation a more positive experience for students. With respect to legal action, social scientists can: (1) help determine the responsibility of State-level agencies in metropolitan school segregation; (2) help prevent the inschool segregation effects of grouping; and (3) help the Courts tailor desegregation plans to lead to effective education. Social scientists can also help educators in the innovation of promising programs. Working with cooperating interracial groups is one such program. Various educators have shown that the institution of competing interracial teams in the classroom greatly influenced school achievement, race relations, and self esteem. Effective desegregation remains one of the best hopes of closing the gap between our egalitarian ideals and the mistreatment of minorities. (Author/RLV)