Eliminate the Achievement Gap
Welcome
Last week I was resident faculty for the Diversity Directions Independent School Diversity Seminar, in greater Boston. Independent and charter school educators from around the country participated in a week of workshops and discussions on race, class, privilege and the implications on education. I was encouraged by the depth of the presentations, discussions, and learning that occurred. I was also aware of the significant challenges facing public and private education in the areas of diversity and multicultural education.
The importance of this type of training was reinforced this week with the release of the most recent federal study on the Black-White academic achievement gap. Despite over 4 decades of research on the issue, there has been slow progress in eliminating the gap. The causes of this gap (a combination of race and class factors) are known and have not changed. Yet, we have not adequately addressed these issues for over 40 years. Some experts are projecting that, at the current pace, there will continue to be a significant Black-White achievement gap for 2 more generations of students. The Obama administration has identified the achievement gap as an important issue to address. However, there should be more urgency to eliminate the gap
The “re-segregation” of our schools gets little press. In a very short time, the majority of students in the United States will be students of color. The demographics of schools in many metropolitan suburbs reflect a more multiracial student population. There is clear evidence that in diverse schools, academic achievement improves for all students. At the same time, in both public and private schools, white students are the most racially isolated group of students in the country. Black and Latino students who come from low income families continue to attend schools with the fewest resources. Interestingly the National Association for Education Statistics has not tracked a Latino-White achievement gap. With Latino’s representing the fastest growing minority in the United States, they expect to have study published in the next year.
Similarly, very little is written in the press about the training and professional development of teachers in the area of effective multicultural practice. While there are many schools that are models for improving academic achievement for Black and Latino children, there is no push for other schools to build on these models.
At the grassroots level, parents and educators should feel empowered to ask about any achievement gaps in their schools or districts. What best practices are schools and districts doing to eliminate any achievement gap? How effective are their efforts? Push schools to develop or improve their multicultural practice. Push politicians to provide more resources and the best teachers to poor and racially segregated communities. Push for more racial and economic diversity in privileged/segregated school communities. Voice your dissatisfaction with the pace of our national efforts in this area. Move beyond the efforts to just close the achievement gap, and push to eliminate it.
