Black-White Achievement Gap

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the myriad factors that may be contributing to the achievement gap between black and white children in America. The paper also looks at some positive signs regarding the educational future of black children and some possible solutions for closing the gap.

From the Paper:

"As recently as 1998, the press was reporting that African Americans score lower than European Americans on vocabulary, reading, and math skills tests in general, as well as on standardized tests claiming to measure scholastic aptitude and intelligence. Although the gap had narrowed somewhat after 1970, the American black child still scored lower than whites, as much as 15 percent lower. Despite abundant speculation and a wealth of research, no one had yet come up with a "magic bullet" to put a stop to the disparity; in fact, research had shown that the problem was extremely difficult to overcome, despite integration (a fact for more than 40 years) and improvement in other socioeconomic factors. "It is true that the gap shrinks only a little when black and white children attend the same schools. It is also true that the gap shrinks only a little when black and white families have the same amount of schooling, the same income, and the same wealth". (Jencks and Phillips, 1998) The disparity is substantial, as revealed by grades. Researchers in Shaker Heights, Ohio, found that "black-white GPA gap equals roughly one letter grade. The mean GPA is in the neighborhood of C+ for blacks and B+ for whites". (Ferguson, 2001)"

More papers on Black-White Achievement Gap:

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• Term Paper # 101243 : "The "Achievement Gap"

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