What explains the achievement gap?

What explains the achievement gap?

Achievement gaps occur when one group of students (e.g., students grouped by race/ethnicity, gender) outperforms another group and the difference in average scores for the two groups is statistically significant (i.e., larger than the margin of error).

Why is achievement gap important?

The achievement gap matters because it grows over time, having a lasting impact on students, schools, and communities. Low-income and black and Hispanic students are less likely to graduate from high school, less likely to enroll in college, and less likely to graduate from college.

How is achievement gap measured?

The achievement gap can be observed on a variety of measures, including standardized test scores, grade point average, dropout rates, and college enrollment and completion rates.

What is the impact of the achievement gap?

This report finds that the underutilization of human potential in the United States is extremely costly. For individuals, our results show that: Avoidable shortfalls in academic achievement impose r heavy and often tragic consequences, via lower earnings, poorer health, and higher rates of incarceration.

Why is there an achievement gap in schools?

School-related factors (like low rigor, low expectations and a lack of cultural representation in curriculum) play a role, but external factors (like local economic opportunities and family involvement) contribute to achievement gaps as well.

How did the achievement gap begin?

Origins of the achievement gap in early childhood Research shows that the achievement gap, which often first manifests itself through standardized tests in elementary school, actually begins well before students reach kindergarten as a “school readiness” gap.

What is the College achievement gap?

The achievement gap in education refers to the different levels of academic performance of students from a variety of racial, ethnic and economic backgrounds. The lack of access to high-quality education in a child’s early years has a deep and enduring impact on development and academic achievement.

How do you close achievement gaps?

Schools that close achievement gaps focus on improving learning for all students, maintain a “no excuses” attitude, use research and data to improve practice, involve everyone in improvement processes, persist through difficulties and setbacks, and celebrate accomplishments.

What is the achievement gap and what are the effects after high school?

Students who drop out of high school as a result of the racial achievement gap demonstrate difficulty in the job market. The median income of young adults who do not finish high school is about $21,000, compared to the $30,000 of those who have at least earned a high school credential.

What role do teachers play in closing the achievement gap?

Teachers play a vital role in closing the student achievement gap. By learning new strategies in how they approach instructing students, lesson planning, assessing students and providing feedback, teachers can help at-risk students who are falling short of achievement standards.

How does achievement gap affect students?

The achievement gap is the disparity in educational attainment between different groups. The achievement gap negatively affects individuals and society, as students miss out on job and career opportunities, and the rest of us miss out on the contributions they might have made if there had been no gap.