Academic Achievement Differentials

This report described the academic situation confronted by many minority group students in the United States, focusing largely upon the achievement deficits observed when African-American public school students are compared to Caucasian and Asian students. It argues that whereas it is important to ensure that curriculum and testing are appropriate for all students, it is equally important to determine what policies and programs will result in the enhancement of parental involvement in schools and in schooling. The discussion moves from a quantitative review of literature to a brief discussion of interviews conducted with an educator, an administrator in a public school, and a student that provide greater insight into questions regarding whether or not academic achievement differentials do exist when these groups are compared and/or best practices for overcoming these differentials. The report concludes with recommendations as to how schools can facilitate higher levels of parental involvement.

Introduction and Statement of Purpose

It has long been understood that the American public school system has not succeeded in providing truly equal educational opportunities for all students (Oakes, 2005). Most likely to be underserved or poorly served by this system are the children of the poor, members of minority groups, and students with special needs. Of particular interest to educational reformers are the achievement differentials observed when students from racial,

Related Essays

Minorities and Education .... These differentials clearly demonstrate that minority group students are significantly more likely to exhibit lower levels of academic achievement measured as .... (5708 23 )

Compensatory Education Introduction The purpose of .... are the instructional and other kinds of differentials between (4 .... be only that level of achievement which successful bridged the academic gap between .... (5781 23 )

Aptitude Testing .... These inequities translate into very large performance differentials between different .... study focused on the influence of academic achievement on performance in .... (3089 12 )

Education As A Business Concept .... These inequities translate into very large performance differentials between different .... study focused on the influence of academic achievement on performance in .... (9190 37 )

Funding Special Education .... although small, relationship between high school students' academic achievement and per pupil .... was adjusted to account for resource-cost differentials or when .... (2065 8 )

nts in their children's schools. Of special significance, said Machen, Wilson, and Notar (2005), is the creation of programs that directly reach out to low income families and to families of students believed to be at-risk. Many parents in these populations experience difficulty in interacting with educational authorities due to fear of authority, uncertainty about their rights to be involved in schooling, or in the belief that they and their children are devalued by the educational authorities; consequently, creating numerous opportunities for varied types of parental involvement is a challenge for educators and school administrators. Some schools offer stipends for low-income parents who work in classrooms or administrative offices, while others provide parenting skill classes that are designed to assist parents in learning how to help their children with homework and behavioral matters. Other schools offer babysitting and transportation to make it easier for parents with small children or limited funds to participate in school activities. Empirical research supports the efficacy of parental involvement as a spur to improved student learning outcomes for students of all racial and ethnic groups and all socioeconomic backgr

Category: Psychology - A