Closing the Academic Achievement Gap for Generations to Come
As I continue my studies towards being an aspiring 4th-5th grade teacher, I have grown to learn a multitude of disparities that exist within our Education Boards. The achievement gap is the consistent disparity in academic achievement between minority groups and their white counterparts. Black and Latino kids are significantly behind White and Asian Americans in the math and reading standards, and it is not based on how smart the child happens to be. Systematically, Black and Latino communities do not receive as much funding for education which affects the opportunities given to the students. According to a U.S. News & World Report, in my hometown of Indianapolis, IN, the public schools have 57 schools in total, with a budget of 411 million dollars per school year. This totals about $7,699 available per student. The student population at these schools is 80% minority, 47.3% of which are economically disadvantaged. Compared to the neighboring community of Carmel, IN which has a 228.5 million dollar budget for only 15 schools in the Carmel Clay Schools, averaging about $11,275 per student. The student population consists of 30% minority students with only 6.6% being at an economic disadvantage. This shows there is a significant disadvantage in funding based on the community these children live in, and the minority population in that community is at a higher risk of being impacted by this.
A Solution
This disparity isn’t siloed to only Indianapolis, but also across many states in the U.S. The biggest question now is, how do we close the achievement gap? The answer is within the efforts we choose to put forth as a community that would like to see the upcoming generation be equipped with the academic resources they need. Change is best sought after when we analyze the gaps within educational institutions and prioritize the Social Determinants of Learning (SDOL) Framework. Out of the six factors in the SDOL framework, I would like to evoke change by focusing on the psycho-social health of educators and the economic stability of students. To build the psychosocial health of our educators, there should be an increased interdisciplinary pairing between the Board of Education and psychologists to better understand these kids with diverse socio-economic backgrounds. From an economic perspective, funding will help provide books and learning tools to cater to the different types of learners in a classroom, especially with evidence-based learning.
Most importantly linking school and home, is what I believe is the biggest factor besides funding when it comes to closing the achievement gap. Educating parents on how they can help their scholar, providing after-school programs and tutoring, and creating engagement and motivation both at school and at home is critical to a young scholar's success. I do believe with time and intentionality, we can close the achievement gap and show the world the capabilities of brown and black Americans in education. The children sitting in the classroom are more than just kids, they are the change-makers and innovators of our future who have diverse backgrounds that need to start being acknowledged and supported. With the help of organizations with a passion for pouring into the children in partnership with BWC’s Community Engagement Department, I am excited to bring about this change!
Written by Asia Moore, Director of Communications
#Education #YouthEngagement
