Academic Achievement Gaps

The data is compared to those students come from affluent socioeconomic status and backgrounds. The data is sourced from several diverse locations in order to give the broadest view of the disparities that exist. Howard (2010) compares data in reading, mathematics, SAT results and disciplinary rates. This data is a formidable beginning to the content of the book because it provides context for the reader to better understand the achievement gap.

The achievement gap is defined as the disparity between the performance groups of students, especially groups defined by gender, race/ethnicity, ability and socio-economic status. The achievement gap can be observed through a variety of measures including standardized test scores, grade point averages, drop out rates, college enrollment and completion rates. The Black-White achievement gap is a critical issue in modern society’s education system. Although data surrounding the issue clearly indicates that the racial performance gap exists in areas of standardized tests, graduation rates, dropout rates, and enrollment in continuing education, the causative reasons for the gap are ambiguous—therefore presenting a significant challenge in

The “achievement gap” in education refers to the disparity in academic performance between groups of students. The achievement gap is shown in grades, standardized-test scores, course selection, dropout rates, among other success measures. It’s most often used to describe the troubling performance gaps between African-American and latino students, towards the lower end of the performance scale, compared to their white peers, and the similar academic differences between students from low-income families and those who are privileged. In the past decade, scholars and policy makers began focusing their attention on other achievement gaps, such as those based on sex, English language and learning disabilities.

In American education, there is overwhelming evidence that there is an achievement gap between groups of students. In other words, there are measurable differences in the educations and test scores of different groups of students. Some gaps exist between groups or differing gender or socioeconomic status, but the largest gaps exist between groups of different races. America has always been a country with an influx of different cultures through immigration. In schools, these cultures still remain separated. The most noticeable separation is probably that of White and African American students. Although the achievement gap between White and Black students is easily seen there are other clear gaps in the education of Latino and Asian American

As I read about the achievement gap (Taylor), I felt a sense of despair. Families of color are positioned between a rock and a hard place. When children enter kindergarten, the racial gap is half of its ultimate size because many children of color do not participate in high-quality programs. How can people of color "catch up" to their counterparts when they are behind at the age of 5? There are also institutional factors that continue this achievement gap and perpetuate racism by consequence. After Brown v Board of Education (1954), white families enrolled their children in private and suburban schools. Since school busing has been discontinued, school assignments based on residential neighborhoods have created racially segregated schools.

African American students in an affluent, suburban district have not successfully closed the achievement gap. These students’ are generally lower performing that whites and Asians and sometimes lower than Hispanic and/or socio-economically disadvantaged. According to Sohn (2012) the phenomenon of the black white achievement gap has returned. Slaven and Madden (2006) assert “The gap in academic achievement between African American (as well as Latino) children and their White peers is arguably the most important of all educational problems in the U.S.” (p. 389). This leads to continued disparity in educational goals and mastery and ultimately adulthood successes.

A widespread issue for Americans, the achievement gap is a significant inequality that young minorities face. Directly correlated with the societal injustices of poverty and racism, often resulting in limited opportunities and socioeconomic stagnation, the achievement gap encompasses the disparity in education performance of students by race and income. As the basic values of a democratic government include justice and liberty, it is imperative that a democracy and democratic citizens provide equal opportunity for all, especially in the realm of education.

The achievement gap, as most educators know it, isn’t just something seen or experienced at a district level. This is something with national implications, which will be felt for generations to come if it is not addressed now. Yet many people ask “so what? Why do anything about it?” According to a report from The Center for American Progress, longstanding racial and ethnic gaps in education and other areas are growing in part due to income and wealth inequality. This suggests that decisions made today, will directly impact America’s economy tomorrow.

The achievement gap is unfortunately a commonality in America citizens’ language. The achievement gap has affected students for many years. Research has demonstrated the controversies that exist on the causes of the gap, but still we are talking about it in the 21st century. Researchers and public policy officials are examining the dimensions of the achievement gap in America’s school. Unfortunately, the lack of addressing the “real problem” will continue to impose heavy and often tragic consequences of colored students more specifically lower earnings, poverty, and higher rates of incarceration.

In the education sector, the achievement gap delineates the observed disparity in school performance among student groups. This gap is manifested in measures such as test scores, grades, college completion and dropout rates, and selection of courses. Within the U.S. context, the achievement gap has often been used to refer to the worrying performance disparities between Latinos and African-Americans on one hand and their non-Hispanic white counterparts on the other. The gap also describes academic differences between students hailing from socioeconomically disadvantaged and those who are better off. Throughout history, Hispanic and African-American students have persistently lagged behind whites in academic matters, triggering heated policy discussions.

The achievement gap is difficult for children just entering school because the bar has already been set to where some of those children are going to land. At the age of three, children of people with careers have vocabularies that are nearly 1.5 times greater than those of working class children, and nearly double the children whose families are on welfare.” This statistic shows that even children at the age of three experience the achievement gap because of their own home life. It is imperative to reduce or eliminate the Achievement Gap in the U.S. To do this we must identify the problem, balance and control the funding, increase our teachers’ abilities and explain the benefits of closing the gap permanently.

Racial residential segregation contributes to racial differences in graduation and high school drop-out rates and preparation for a college level education (LaVeist & Isaac, 2013). One of the prime sources of residential segregation stems from a large portion of segregated elementary and high schools. In a typical Afro-American community, for instance Jersey City, a family’s residence or district determines which public school their children can attend. It has been noted that those schools where Blacks and Hispanics make up the majority of the student population are located in impoverished neighborhoods (LaVeist & Isaac, 2013). On average, such school districts have lower test scores, a limited number of qualified teachers, deteriorating buildings, a high number of teen pregnancy and students who drop out just to name a few. Latino and Black students are predominantly found in urban schools that have lower academic achievement ratings than those of

The future generations in America will most likely not be better than the current generation and our predecessors if we do not act now. Every year, the high school dropout rate increases and standardized test scores decrease also. Furthermore, the nation’s Common Core Standards have not been changed for about a decade. Students will become more passive than active every year if this does not stop. Also America will soon not be able to solve future challenges caused by the world or other nations. The nation’s education should be more advance than before, to ensure that America will always be great.

When there is a significant and constant imbalance in the academic performances or educational requirements the achievement gap is created. Schools are not working hard enough to minimize or close the achievement gap. The achievement gap can differ from school to school, district to district, and community to community and have numerous different influential factors that cause the achievement gap. The achievement gap can be created from standards and requirements students are needed to fulfill, a family's income or districts wealth, and students receiving poor education. Each of those issues that create the achievement gap have a solution.

In the quest to become the most effective teacher of urban youth, it is necessary to review the literature on what effects urban students the most. The achievement gap or the opportunity gap seems to be a factor when it comes to how urban students are taught and perceived. Teachers can help fix the gap that exists among our students across the US. In order to do this, it is necessary to review strategies and teaching methods and compare notes to put a plan together that can begin to start to close the gap that exists. This review of literature will focus on six bodies of research that will help develop a deeper understanding of the “gap”. These bodies of research include: what it means to teach middle school, how to describe the gap, what it means to be black in the US, alternative teaching strategies, how the gap effects math education specifically, and poverty in America. It is important to close the gap, so our country can stay competitive in the global society that is