Minority School Performance

Issues on minority school performance

One of the current trends in looking at school performance is measuring that performance by the use of standardized tests. These tests have been made the gauge of accomplishment, sometimes the sole gauge of improvement in schools and in minority school performance. However, there is controversy over both the testing and the improvements that have been claimed in several states.

For example, Texas has claimed a near-miracle in improved test scores, including the highest test scores for African-American and Latino students in the country. More intensive study of these gains, however, has indicated that they are somewhat illusory. They have been attributed to intensive testing drills, exclusion of many disadvantaged students from the testing process, and actual cheating on the part of some schools. While George Bush has claimed that the Texas miracle is real, educators are not that sure. The improved test results have not been followed by actual increased learning, nor improvements in college testing, college preparation, nor college grades (Weisman, 2000).

Theories regarding minority school performance

As noted in the introduction, there have been a plethora of theories regar

. . .
designed to provide multiple services, including services to families, that would enable the children to avoid falling behind before they even entered the first grade. At the current time, Head Start remains a national program providing comprehensive developmental services to low-income, preschool children aged three to five. There are approximately 1,400 community-based programs administered by the Administration for Children and Families. In fiscal year 1999, $4.66 billion was allocated for Head Start programs. In other words, much is expected of the program and it has been expanded to include Early Head Start which includes children under three and pregnant women. There are new performance standards, and expanding programs for American Indians and migrants, along with other under-served groups (Head Start fact sheet, 1999). However, there have also been challenges to Head Start to prove that it is accountable for government funds by meeting performance standards established for the program. At the request of Congress, the Government Accounting Office actually audited the entire Head Start program through the Department of Health and Human Services in order to ensure Head Start accountability. This is interesting in i
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
Head Start, Bowles Gintis, Asian American, Finally MacSwan, Ainsworth-Darnell Downey, Longitudinal Study, Chinese Zealand, George Bush, Caribbeans Channer, , head start, school goals, academic achievement, school performance, et al, school achievement, school system, oppositional culture, parent involvement, head start program, start program, et al 1997, minority school performance, head start teachers, oppositional culture explanation,
Approximate Word count = 4892
Approximate Pages = 20 (250 words per page)

More Essays on Minority School Performance