How to wipe out Arizona's achievement gap
When it comes to the achievement gap between Black, Hispanic and Native American students and other kids, Arizona needs to remember four guiding principles.
IT'S REAL.
In Arizona public schools, Black, Latino and Native American kids are as much as 44 percentage points behind other students, according to the state Department of Education. This is a persistent problem.
IT MATTERS.
Statewide, about 60 percent of school children are among these groups. The future of the state is linked to the success or failure of these children. They are tomorrow’s leaders. Tomorrow’s workforce.
IT'S NOT THE KIDS' FAULT.
Experts point to a complex list of often-interrelated reasons these children fall behind in school. Some involve language. Some are cultural. Some are economic. Some result from low expectations or a school’s discipline practices.
None are intrinsic. Black, Latino and Native American children are not less intelligent. They are not inherently less able to learn. They are just as smart.
WE CAN FIX THIS.
The achievement gap has been the focus of efforts in the Paradise Valley Unified School District, Mesa Public Schools and Phoenix Union High School District, according to Arizona Republic reporter Cathryn Creno.
An approach that earned kudos in Tempe Union High School District’s McClintock High School involved putting high demands on kids considered “remedial.” Last spring, they studied Shakespeare.
Recognizing that some minority children have particular challenges is not the same as lowering expectations for those children. It is not about giving them an excuse to underachieve. Education should empower students to reach beyond their comfort level.
When it comes to students who lag behind, it is about finding ways to help them achieve their best. That starts with believing all children arrive at school with enormous potential that should be developed for their sake and for the sake of Arizona’s future.