Education Law

The silent achievment gap

Over at the Edifier the Center for Public Education discloses the presence of a silent achievement gap. What is the silent achievement gap you?re probably asking? Well, it is the gap between the number of minority and white students earning the credentials (grades, courses, and college entrance exam scores) they need to get into a good college.

While one?s initial thoughts upon hearing the words ?achievement gap? instantly shift to gaps in test scores, the Center?s new report Chasing the college acceptance letter found another gap in achievement  between white and minority students but not based on test scores. The report found that white students are more than three times more likely than their minority peers to earn the credentials they need in high school to have a decent chance of getting into a good college. A similar gap exists between low- and high-income students as well.

The Edifier reminds school board members that the goal is not simply to graduate all students but to prepare them for life after college as well. This includes providing all students with the rigorous courses, effective teachers, and other resources they need to so if they plan on going onto college they have the best chance possible of finding one of those fat acceptance letters from a good college.

For more information on K-12?s role in getting students into college check out Chasing the college acceptance letter. BoardBuzz also suggests you check out the Center?s Defining to 21^st century education on why all students benefit from a college prep curriculum, even if they don?t plan on going onto college. Check out page 31 of the full report and see for yourself what kind of math skills students need to get a good job after high school.

Full post as published by BoardBuzz: NSBA's Daily Weblog on January 26, 2010 (boomark / email).