The Economy's Learning Curve   SHIFTS in interest rates and
prices spur officials to pull various economic levers. Their
decisions are felt by everyone, right in the family budget.
Decisions to adjust the United States public school system are
no less important to Americans' economic well being. But the
effects are much less immediate, and officials are much less
confident about which levers to pull, or who should pull them.
A report by the Quality Education for Minorities (QEM) Project
should help change that.  It solidifies the link between
improved schooling for poorer, non-white Americans and a
stronger US economy. A third of the nation will be Hispanic,
black, native American, or Asian in 20 years. A third of the
public school enrollment already is.  Recommended: Could you
pass a US citizenship test?  The QEM study represents two years
of work by a network of educators from all parts of the US. Its
recommends 58 ways of making the public classroom a more
engaging place for minority youngsters. These inc