Addressing the Education Equity Gap: Challenges, Solutions, and How You Can Help
"Unraveling the Black-White Achievement Gap: A Multifaceted Examination"
Whose Responsibility Is the Black-White Achievement Gap?
In an Education Week article, Christina A. Samuels delves into the issue of literacy in our public schools. She begins by recounting her experiences taking the SAT test twice in the late 1980s, relying solely on practice tests provided by her school. (Note: I never took this test myself; I prepared for the SAT in the early 1990s and decided against taking it. I pursued an alternative path to college.)
Ms. Samuels achieved an impressive score in the 99th percentile. However, I, like many others, did not come close to such an achievement. I’ll delve into this further shortly. In her article, she poses a crucial question: Why does a significant achievement gap persist between Black and White students?
Today, as Ms. Samuels points out, SAT scores have diminished in importance. Many of our nation’s elite colleges and universities have shifted to test-optional admissions policies. This transformation may be a positive development, considering that a significant portion of American students now graduate with English proficiency ranging from average to below average.
However, Ms. Samuels argues that ethnic and racial disparities extend beyond SAT scores and manifest across various forms of testing, not just SATs.
Consequently, Education Week recently conducted a survey of teachers, the majority of whom were White educators with 20 to 30 years of classroom experience. These teachers were presented with a range of factors and asked to identify those they believed contributed to the overall superior academic performance of White students compared to Black students.
The survey yielded the following results:
– Three-quarters or more of the teachers asserted that motivation, parenting, income, home environments, and neighborhood conditions at least somewhat, considerably, or extremely accounted for academic disparities.
– 72% regarded “school quality” as a major contributing factor.
– Slightly less than half attributed a significant role to discrimination.
– A notable minority, 29%, viewed genetics as somewhat or extremely significant in explaining these gaps.
– An even higher percentage, 38%, believed genetics played a substantial role in why Asian students, on average, outperformed their White counterparts.
However, it’s essential to acknowledge that the concept of “Blackness” is as much a societal construct as it is a genetic one. These findings underscore a complex interplay of factors influencing educational disparities.
While diverse opinions exist regarding the root causes of the achievement gap, one thing is clear: addressing this issue requires a multifaceted approach and the collective efforts of society as a whole.
Exploring the Perplexing Black-White Achievement Gap: A Complex Puzzle
She then proceeds to say that the category of “black” is more fluid, as are other categories — and geneticists agree that “black” is more diverse among individuals than as a population grouped by “race.”
My comment here about fluid: What does Ms. Samuels mean by “black” being more fluid than other categories? Latinos are equally as diverse as “black” individuals. By fluid, I mean we exhibit easy adaptability, graceful versatility, and a lack of rigidity. 😄 Just kidding. But “Latinos” are as distinct from each other as individuals, despite speaking the same language. Our cultures are as diverse as the countries in Africa.
Ms. Samuels then proceeds to say that there is some truth to what teachers are saying. That is, it matters whether parents are middle-class, upper class, or poor. It matters whether the parents are college-educated or not. It matters whether parents fill their homes with books. It matters whether parents are able to model the rewards of a good education. And she says it matters that her parents were able to work the system well enough to steer her into good schools in a good district.
Wealth is a factor in a child’s success.
Poor students of all races are disadvantaged and perform worse on tests than more affluent students.
She then says there are specific policy decisions that amplify the corrosive effects of poverty. Right now, majority-minority school districts receive $23 billion less in funding nationally, according to EdBuild.
That disparity may not be the individual teacher’s fault — but it’s someone’s fault. (Yes, it is someone’s fault. That someone is our Government.) We are concentrating poor students into districts that have less money to support them. (I don’t agree.) And instead of trying to make the system fairer, it’s actually getting worse, as a growing number of affluent communities work to form their own school districts, effectively keeping their resources for themselves.
Accordingly, Ronald F. Ferguson, an economist and director of Harvard’s Achievement Gap Initiative, studied the issue closely, and in 2016, released a report called “Aiming Higher Together: Strategizing Better Educational Outcomes for Boys and Young Men of Color.” His report attempts to explain all the barriers that stand in the way of students by the time they reach adolescence.
There are things that parents and communities could do differently to help children build their literacy skills before the age of 5. Those things can give all children a great start, as long as parents are proactive and schools and teachers support them.
So why do achievement gaps persist? Ms. Samuels believes none of us are off the hook — not parents, schools, teachers, districts, or politicians. And I’m convinced that Ms. Samuels’ son will achieve great things if she helps lay the foundation at home.
But I believe that the achievement gaps will persist because our government leaders eliminated teaching phonics to children. This gap is the biggest scam in our country, and it started with the progressive movement of the 1920s, which introduced the look-and-say method of teaching reading. It’s the root cause of our problems.
Marla Fernandez, a dedicated advocate for educational equity, is working tirelessly to address the complex issue of the black-white achievement gap in our public schools. By supporting her mission, you are contributing to a brighter future for countless young minds, regardless of their background or circumstances. Your donation will help fund initiatives that aim to bridge this educational divide, ensuring that every child has an equal opportunity to succeed. Join Marla in her pursuit of a fairer and more inclusive educational system, and together, we can make a meaningful impact on the lives of our nation’s students. Donate today to be a part of this transformative journey.