As a parent, it’s important to understand the persistent academic disparities that exist between different groups of students, known as achievement gaps. These troubling gaps appear across all academic measures and have complex societal causes. This article provides an overview of what parents should know about these gaps, including why they exist and how teachers can help reduce them. With knowledge and advocacy, parents can support efforts to close achievement gaps and create a more just education system.
What is the Achievement Gap?
The achievement gap in the United States refers to academic disparities between white students and minority students, especially African American and Hispanic students. It also exists between students from higher and lower-income families. National assessment data consistently shows White and Asian students outperforming Black and Hispanic students in core subjects like reading and math. For example, on the 2019 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in 8th-grade math, 45% of White students were proficient compared to only 19% of Black students and 26% of Hispanic students. This gap persists across all grade levels and subjects.
Why Does it Exist?
Many interrelated factors contribute to the stubborn persistence of achievement gaps in American education. These include:
- Socioeconomic disparities – Minority and low-income students are more likely to face challenges like food insecurity, inadequate healthcare, unstable housing, stress, and exposure to violence. All of these can negatively impact learning.
- Funding inequities – Schools serving predominantly low-income and minority students tend to have fewer resources.
- Lower teacher expectations – Some research suggests teachers have lower academic expectations for minority students.
- Cultural mismatches – Curriculum and teaching styles may not connect well with all students’ cultural backgrounds.
- Segregation – Minority students are more likely to attend racially segregated schools with higher poverty rates.
- Early learning gaps – Differences in students’ readiness for schooling emerge early and widen over time if not addressed.
Read Also: Food Insecurity in Public Schools
How Teachers Can Reduce the Achievement Gap
Teachers play a pivotal role in working to close achievement gaps within their classrooms and schools. Some key evidence-based strategies include:
- Taking a course or pursuing professional development focused specifically on closing the achievement gap in education. This helps teachers gain skills and knowledge to address disparities.
- Maintaining high expectations for all students, regardless of their background. Assuming all students can achieve at high levels becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
- Using culturally responsive teaching methods that connect to diverse students’ backgrounds. For example, incorporating texts and materials reflecting students’ cultural experiences.
- Providing early, intensive intervention for struggling students to prevent gaps from widening. This includes screening for reading gaps in the early grades and providing extra support to catch students up.
- Collaborating with the community and parents through strategies like home visits to build strong partnerships in support of students.
- Using data to closely monitor the achievement gap in their classrooms and schools. Disaggregating data helps teachers identify gaps and make sure interventions are working.
While complex societal and systemic factors contribute to achievement gaps, teachers are well-positioned to make a difference for their students. By maintaining high expectations, monitoring student data, and scaffolding instruction, teachers can help ensure all students reach their full potential.
