The often-vitriolic debate on intelligence testing, affirmative action, and educational policy encompasses issues of deep social, political, economical, and emotional significance to all Americans. This special theme issue focuses on the current thinking of leading scholars in the areas of intelligence testing, affirmative action, and educational policy. This introduction to the theme issue begins with an overview of key data and observations that place the debate into sharper focus. Next, the major areas of scholarly work relevant to the debate are reviewed. Finally, the contributors and their major points of view are introduced to orient the reader for the journey through the 21 articles and commentary that comprise this volume.