The Achievement Gap and Equal Educational Opportunity Presented by July & Linda July 23, 2004.

The Achievement The Achievement Gap and Equal Gap and Equal

Educational Educational OpportunityOpportunity

Presented by July & LindaPresented by July & Linda

July 23, 2004July 23, 2004

July 23July 23rdrd, 2004, 2004

Gaps in achievement exist Gaps in achievement exist across the states.across the states.

• Gaps can be found based upon:Gaps can be found based upon:

• Race/ethnicityRace/ethnicity

• Income levelsIncome levels

• Language backgroundLanguage background

• Disability statusDisability status

• Gender ( boys & girls )Gender ( boys & girls )


Gaps are Evidenced in Gaps are Evidenced in Data :Data :

• Proficiency Test ResultsProficiency Test Results

• Dropout RatesDropout Rates

• Graduation RatesGraduation Rates


In Ohio:In Ohio:

• White students are twice as likely to White students are twice as likely to be proficient in math as African be proficient in math as African American students.American students.

• 66thth graders who meet low-income graders who meet low-income criteria are about half as likely to be criteria are about half as likely to be proficient in math and science as 6proficient in math and science as 6thth graders who do not meet low-income graders who do not meet low-income criteria.criteria.


In Ohio:In Ohio:

• African American students are more African American students are more likely to be in special education and likely to be in special education and less likely to be in gifted programs less likely to be in gifted programs than White students.than White students.

• African American students are almost African American students are almost 3 times as likely to drop out of school 3 times as likely to drop out of school as white students.as white students.


Dropout Rates (G12) of Dropout Rates (G12) of Maryland in 2000-01 School Maryland in 2000-01 School YearYearTotal (%)Total (%) 4.14.1

American IndianAmerican Indian 4.74.7

HispanicHispanic 3.73.7

BlackBlack 5.95.9

WhiteWhite 3.23.2


In Ohio: (Of Every 100 In Ohio: (Of Every 100 Kindergarteners)Kindergarteners)Graduate Graduate fromfrom

High High SchoolSchool

College College Bachelor’s Bachelor’s DegreeDegree

WhiteWhite 9191 6262 3030

AfricaAfrica 8787 5454 1616

LatinoLatino 6262 2929 66


Reasons For The GapReasons For The Gap

• Language Language backgroundbackground

• Teacher Teacher expectationexpectation

• Socio-economic Socio-economic conditioncondition

• Social promotionSocial promotion


Reasons for the GapReasons for the Gap

• Language Language backgroundbackground

• Teacher Teacher expectationexpectation

• Socio-economic Socio-economic conditioncondition

• Social promotionSocial promotion


Language BackgroundLanguage Background

Unable to listen to teachersWith a clear understanding

Unable to read fluentlyWith little vocabulary

Unable to write good papers


Teachers’ Low ExpectationTeachers’ Low Expectation

• Being restlessBeing restless

• Neglecting Neglecting classroom classroom disciplinediscipline

• Making troublesMaking troubles


Socio-economic ConditionSocio-economic Condition

• Tend to mirror their Tend to mirror their parents’ statusparents’ status

• Esp. educational Esp. educational backgroundbackground


Social PromotionSocial Promotion

• Students are allowed to continue to Students are allowed to continue to pass through school with their peers pass through school with their peers without satisfying academic without satisfying academic requirements. requirements.

• Not increase students achievementNot increase students achievement• Not properly prepare students for Not properly prepare students for

college and future employmentcollege and future employment• causes doubt to students’ academic causes doubt to students’ academic

level according to their diplomaslevel according to their diplomas


To Narrow the GapTo Narrow the Gap

• Emphasize early childhood literacy Emphasize early childhood literacy • Identify student’s needs early in Identify student’s needs early in

order to apply appropriate order to apply appropriate instructional strategies. instructional strategies.

• Schools should provide professional Schools should provide professional development that deepens teachers’ development that deepens teachers’ content knowledge, improves content knowledge, improves instructional strategies to engage all instructional strategies to engage all children in learning,. children in learning,.


To Narrow the GapTo Narrow the Gap

• Use more effective Use more effective student grouping student grouping practicespractices

• Develop Develop transitional and transitional and dropout prevention dropout prevention programsprograms

Shanghai Shanghai

Mainly based onMainly based on

Social-economic Social-economic levellevel

• Children from Low income families

• children of laborers of Migrant workers


Shanghai Jiu Long Shanghai Jiu Long

Model High SchoolModel High School

Offer free educationOffer free education

Social-economic level:Social-economic level:

far belowfar below

the average poverty standardthe average poverty standard


The number of students:The number of students:

357 996 357 996


Age from 6 to 18Age from 6 to 18

In Shanghai the number is about 320,000In Shanghai the number is about 320,000

Some-----public schoolSome-----public school

Some-----the school for children ofSome-----the school for children of

laborers of migrant workerslaborers of migrant workers



Enroll more children in public schoolsEnroll more children in public schools

Train the teachersTrain the teachers

More high-qualified teachersMore high-qualified teachers

Improve the environment Improve the environment


Closing achievement Closing achievement gaps requires the gaps requires the involvement of:involvement of:• StudentsStudents

• ParentsParents

• Community membersCommunity members

• TeachersTeachers

• AdministratorsAdministrators

• Policy makersPolicy makers


To close achievement To close achievement gaps, we need:gaps, we need:• Students who believe in their ability Students who believe in their ability

to succeed and work diligently.to succeed and work diligently.

• Teachers who know how to teach the Teachers who know how to teach the diverse populations of students in diverse populations of students in their classes.their classes.

• Parents who know how to support Parents who know how to support their child’s learning at home and at their child’s learning at home and at school.school.


To close achievement To close achievement gaps, we need:gaps, we need:• Community members and policy Community members and policy

makers who hold educators makers who hold educators accountable for results and support accountable for results and support their school with adequate resources.their school with adequate resources.

• Administrators who support students, Administrators who support students, teachers, parents, and community teachers, parents, and community members as they work together to members as they work together to improve teaching and learning.improve teaching and learning.


There should be more cooperation between the government the school and the community.


To close achievement To close achievement gaps, we must remember gaps, we must remember that:that:• There are answers!There are answers!

• There are NOT any simple answers.There are NOT any simple answers.

• Blame wastes time that could be Blame wastes time that could be spent creating partnerships.spent creating partnerships.

• The answers are in partnerships.The answers are in partnerships.


Thanks to Thanks to

Professor LawlorProfessor Lawlor

Our colleaguesOur colleagues

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The Achievement Gap and Equal Educational Opportunity Presented by July & Linda July 23, 2004.

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