Running Head: ACHIEVEMENT GAP BETWEEN MINORITIES AND 0

WHITES

Achievement Gap Between

Minorities and Whites in School

Max Pumarlo

Edina High School

Introduction and Thesis

The achievement gap between minorities and whites is an existing problem in

society and education today. The gap has slightly narrowed over the past half a century,

which is considered a national embarrassment. (Camera, 2016). The data that was

gathered through many years of experiments and research are surprising and not

appealing. Starting at an early age, black students have a history of scoring lower on

standardized tests. As well as historically, the black-white test scare gap has started from

as early as kindergarten and only widens as time goes on. (Fryer and Levitt, 2004).

Through research and studies we can gain more understanding of what causes the gap. By

eliminating or narrowing the gap we can now move on to further advances in the well

being of African-Americans, (Fryer and Levitt, 2004). The gap is a widely overlooked

issue in America by creating programs to help support the children, parents, and teachers

can help relieve the problem.

Poverty Rates and Gap between Upper and Lower Class

One of the key reasons that the gap even exists is because of poverty and the

differences between the middle and upper class and lower class and between races. While

the gap between the upper and lower class is smaller, the gap that separates the middle

and upper class is significantly larger, (Montlake, 2016). Americans from the years of

25-29, 40% of them held a bachelors degree in 2013, but only 14% for Hispanics and

20% for blacks. (Williams, 2016). Even though more minorities are graduating from

high school from each year, most of them are only attending community colleges, which

some of them can be two-year schools. (Williams, 2016). All because of the lack of

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resources and inability to afford a standard college fund and paying off that nasty debt.

There is no doubt that the poverty rates are much higher for minorities. Poverty rates for

blacks are at 37.1% and 31.9% for Hispanics, but whites sit at a mere 12.3%. Poverty

highly effects the outcome in school for many reasons. One, kids cannot get the right

vaccinations for school and end up having more missed days of school. They also cannot

afford the needed textbooks and basic utensils.

Basic Education

Another reason for the existence for the gap is the difference in reading levels and

how they affect children later on as they go on in education. The reading level for

minority students is lagging by quite a bit, (Williams, 2016). Studies show that a fourth

graders reading level is a key indicator of whether or not that student will pass in high

school or college. The results were surprising, when only 21% of Hispanic students were

at a proficient reading level by fourth grade and blacks at a mere 18% is not where we

would hope to be. (Williams, 2016). According to Child Trends, studies show that low-

income families tend to do the worst in standardized tests. (Williams, 2016). Again this

plays back to the role of poverty and how it can severely affect the outcome of a childs

education. The schools that these low-income families are attending are not set to a high

standard. They offer less math, science, reading, English, social studies sources, which

doesnt put them into a good position for college. (Williams, 2016)

Parental Support

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Many dont realize that one of the main reasons why kids are not passing school

at any grade level is because of the parents. Many would think that a childs future is

based on their decisions and how they use their life wisely. Parents that are not working

professionals or working only part-time jobs have a tougher time finding the right school

for their child because they are in high demand for financial support. With that comes the

lack of health care and vaccinations. When kids miss days and days of school it results in

low-test scores. Along with that, schools are in competition with other schools.

(Montlake, 2016). Parents have to be engaged in their childs education even if that

means that parents must find a second job or else that child could possibly be in the same

boat as the parent. (Montlake, 2016). In an article written by Simon Montlake, a mother

says, she believes that she can make a difference in wherever her daughter enrolls. It

takes a parent, and you gotta be all in. (Montlake, 2016). My reasoning that supports the

evidence given can really help clear out that parents play a much larger role in a childs

education. Minority students have a larger drop out rate and more missed days because of

the lack of support from parents, and its playing a huge role in why the gap is not

making a whole lot of progress. (Fryer and Levitt, 2004).

Racial Profiling in Society

Whether its racial discriminations or profiling, it exists in school and a huge

factor in society today. Schools suspend minorities at much higher rates than whites

starting at a very young age. (Resmovits, 2016). Black preschool children are 3.6 times

more likely to be suspended. (Resmovits, 2016). The Civil Rights Data Collection which

is a national survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Education did a study of over

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50 million student and 95,000 schools, found that even though more and more kids of any

minority race are attending school, the suspension rates gap is remaining at a stand still.

(Resmovits, 2016). At all grades, 2.8 million students were suspended, but blacks were

almost 4 times as likely to be suspended and almost 2 as likely to be expelled than whites.

At school, children notice that teachers and not being the supportive person they were

trained to be are treating them more like adults. (Resmovits, 2016). Jason Okonofua, a

school psychologist at Stanford University, found that the source can be because of the

student-teacher relationship. (Resmovits, 2016). He found that minority students played

the victim of bias, Okonofua said. This leads to them being less cooperative and more

ignorant. So, if a teacher feels disrespected and believes that a student is a trouble maker,

without any hard evidence, then they should be punished more severe, which causes a

never ending cycle. He presented a scene or scenario in which a student interrupted class

by walking around, but some teachers read about a boy named Jake, a white name, and

others read about Darnell, a black name. After that first infraction or warning, they opted

to discipline either boy almost the same way. When presented with an additional scenario,

this time, Jake/Darnell fell asleep in class and some teachers punished Darnell in a

harsher way. (Resmovits, 2016). Evidence reveals that this is no doubt, racial profiling. It

is not the students fault; its the teachers. If teachers believe that a student is black, then

they have had a past history of trouble making then they must be punished more harshly.

(Resmovits, 2016). Whether its that teachers feel threatened or they dont know how to

deal with these kind of situations as represented in the Jake/Darnell scenario, teachers

clearly have not been trained to realize that in society outside of school can be tipped to

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one side by any means of bias. When teachers feel that a child is misbehaving, they jump

to conclusions immediately. (Resmovits, 2016).

Solutions and Actions Being Taken

Although the gap still exists, strategies and ideas to close the gap are in progress and

seeing some improvement over time. More and more students whether its black or

Hispanic, they are graduating at a much higher level. Opportunities for lower class

children are handed out. In K-12 public schools, the attendance rate for black and

Hispanic students grew from 9% to 16% from 2000 to 2016, which is a huge

improvement. (Williams, 2016). The lower is being helped out greatly and to prove it

schools have been setting up lunch programs to help pay for the food and in return the

kids are involved in extra curricular activities, which gets them more involved with the

community. (Williams, 2016). As well as that, suspension rates have dropped drastically

in the 2011-2012 and 2013-2014 school years by almost 20 percent. Part of the reason is

because of the a new system teachers are using which involves a reward system.

(Resmovits, 2016). All in all, one of the key solutions to this problem, is to get the

teachers properly trained and keep parent and student staff involved. (Resmovits, 2016).

Some possible actions that can help resolve the problem is more extra curricular activities

to keep children involved in the community. Another idea, is possible parental programs

to help lower class parents that work more than one jobs to help give them a hand in

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everyday activities, whether its getting the child home after school, a tutor for school, or

even financial help so the parents focus on the future for the child.

Conclusion

The achievement gap is widely overlooked especially by the upper class. The gap

exists because of poverty, lack of effort in basic education, lack or parental support, and

the unqualified teachers to help be there to support. (Evans, 2005, 582-589). Its a huge

problem to our country and little to nothing is being done about it. Children right now are

the face of our country for the future. It needs to be taken into action by adults or

teenagers willing to volunteer at school, donate books and writing utensils so kids can

have what they need to be successful. Programs should be taken into account for parents

and teachers for better understanding of the issue and open their eyes to the problem.

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Sources

Evans, R. (2005, 04). Reframing the achievement gap. Phi Delta Kappan Vol.86, no.8, ,

582-589. Retrieved from http://sks.sirs.com

Mathis, W. J. (2005, 04). Bridging the achievement gap: A bridge too far? Phi Delta

Kappan Vol.86, no.8, , 590-593. Retrieved from http://sks.sirs.com

Mehta, R. F. F. w. J. (2004, 05). An unfinished journey: The legacy of brown and the

narrowing.. Phi Delta Kappan, , 656-669. Retrieved from http://sks.sirs.com

Montlake, S. (2016, 09/07). Connecticut schools: Unequal--and now unconstitutional.

Christian Science Monitor Retrieved from http://sks.sirs.com

Resmovits, J. (2016, 06/08). Black preschool kids are suspended much more than white

kids. Los Angeles Times Retrieved from http://sks.sirs.com

Whitmire, R. (1997, 11/05). The education gap: Why minority test scores lag. Gannett

News Service Retrieved from http://sks.sirs.com

Williams, J. (2016, 07/04). The scandal of K-12 education. Wall Street Journal Online

Retrieved from http://sks.sirs.com

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