What is the problem with the achievement gap?

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.

Why is the achievement gap a problem?

Insufficient funding, lack of resources, and poor teacher training in low-income schools also contribute to the gap between lower-income and higher-income students. The achievement gap reduces the potential of thousands of profitable workers and damages the US economy.

What is the economic impact of the achievement gap in America's schools?

A persistent gap in academic achievement between children in the United States and their counterparts in other countries deprived the US economy of as much as $2.3 trillion in economic output in 2008, McKinsey research finds.

How would you describe 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).

What impact does the idea of an achievement gap have on the performance of students affected in college?

Achievement Gap Definition

The achievement gap is present at all levels of education—from kindergarten to postgraduate studies. This gap has a negative impact on the individuals and the society as a whole as students will miss out on great career opportunities due to the lack of education and qualification.

The Achievement Gap: The Solution | Shawn Brown | TEDxSDSU

What are 3 specific causes of the achievement gap?

There are many causes of Achievement Gap – from racism, lack of acculturation, and socioeconomic status, to sexism and availability of technology.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a gap year student?

What is the biggest contributor to the achievement gap?

However, socioeconomic inequities are the most significant contributor to the achievement gap, as shown by the broader gap in areas where economic disparities are more prevalent. Minorities and those from low-income and low-employment areas generally make up groups in these areas.

What is the achievement gap and why does it exist?

According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, an achievement gap occurs 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.”¹ While achievement differences between ...

What is the achievement gap for poor students?

The Achievement Gap is the persistent disparity in academic achievement and/or educational attainment between low-income students of color and their white peers. The gap typically refers to test scores.

Who is affected by the achievement gap?

California's gap demographics

Black and Latino students significantly trail white and Asian American students in meeting the state's reading and math standards. In some instances — say, performance in reading and math between white and black students — the difference in achievement is more than two-fold.

What is the most important cause of the achievement gap between rich and poor children?

One reason for the growing gap in achievement, researchers say, could be that wealthy parents invest more time and money than ever before in their children (in weekend sports, ballet, music lessons, math tutors, and in overall involvement in their children's schools), while lower-income families, which are now more ...

What factors contribute to the achievement gap for diverse populations of students?

What factors contribute to the achievement gap for diverse populations of students? Racism, lack of acculturation, and socioeconomic status, to sexism and availability of technology.

How does the achievement gap affect the economy?

The report finds that the underutilization of human potential as reflected in the achievement gap is extremely costly. Existing gaps impose the economic equivalent of a permanent national recession—one substantially larger than the deep recession the country is currently experiencing.

How do we reduce the achievement gap?

What are the benefits of closing the achievement gap?

In other words, enhancing education across the income spectrum promotes a steadily growing economy as well as equal opportunity. In addition, narrowing the student achievement gap can also raise tax revenue that would eventually result in further long-term economic benefits.

Does the achievement gap still exist?

Student Achievement Gaps in California Are Large and Persistent. Year after year, Latino and African American students consistently have lower average state standardized test scores than white and Asian students.

Is there still an achievement gap?

Since the 1990s, however, achievement gaps in every grade and subject have been declining. As of 2012, the white-black and white-Hispanic achievement gaps were 30-40% smaller than they were in the 1970s. Nonetheless, the gaps are still very large, ranging from 0.5 to 0.9 standard deviations.

Why we need to stop calling it the achievement gap?

It can perpetuate the idea that students are achieving at a lower level because something is wrong with them, falsely placing the blame on a student's mindset or effort, rather than the years of setbacks they have faced due to socioeconomic disparities [1].

Has the achievement gap narrowed?

After four decades, the gap has narrowed to 0.7 S.D., a gap of around 2.5 years of learning. This finding conflicts with the conventional wisdom that SES-achievement gaps are increasing. But it also suggests that, if this trend continues apace, it will take until mid-22nd century for such gaps to disappear.

What are the disadvantages of Title 1 schools?

Students Start Academically Disadvantaged. With all the circumstances students in Title 1 schools are subjected to, many are not able to learn due to not having their basic needs met. Some have parents working multiple jobs and are not exposed to books, reading, and parental support.

Why are California schools so underfunded?

THE REASON: California is spending less on education because of policy choices it has made. The state directs fewer resources to education than do other states, and its chosen tax sources are volatile, making education funding vulnerable during economic downturns.

What are the negative effects of gap years?

Cons. Gap years also have drawbacks. Postponing school or work takes people off of a more traditional path, and it's sometimes challenging to get back on. If not well organized, a gap year might seem too unstructured, and people can become frustrated if they feel that they aren't putting their time to good use.

Does gap year affect academic performance?

Many detractors mistakenly believe that gap years negatively affect future academic success and employability. However, studies indicate that this is false. One American University study found that 60% of polled gap year participants said they took their education more seriously due to their experiences.

What three questions should you ask yourself before taking a gap year?

What do you plan to do with your gap year? Would you use your gap year to work, or to rest? Would you prefer to stay home or travel? Figure out how you'd most like to spend your time off school, and start making a plan.