Closing the Achievement Gap - Washington State School Directors ...

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Overview of the PolicyAction GuideThe Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA)is publishing this report from the Ad Hoc Achievement GapTask Force to bring attention and focus to creating equity and excellence inall schools and classrooms. The report is designed to provide a frameworkfor school board and community dialogue about the achievement gap andto assist school boards across Washington in taking action to reduce, andultimately eliminate, the disparity in achievement among groups of students.This policy action guide begins by providing a definition and overview ofthe achievement gap, giving readers an understanding of what the gap is,why it exists and how it is stubbornly chronic in too many schools. Researchis also presented that school boards can use to understand theachievement gap and the impact of poverty and race on student learning.The intent is that this information helps school board members betterunderstand the achievement gap in their own districts. Research about theachievement of students in Washington state and nationally is provided tofurther knowledge about the gap. Also presented is research that “dispelsthe myth” and gives evidence that poor students and minority students canachieve at high levels when they are taught at high levels.The next section of the policy action guide presents what the Task Forcehas identified as key policy issues school boards need to address in closingthe achievement gap. For each policy issue, context and background ispresented, followed by recommendations for action by local school boards.School districts throughout Washington are actively working to improvestudent achievement and close the achievement gap, and examples are citedfor each of the policy areas. Finally, general conclusions and policy-levelWASHINGTON STATE SCHOOL DIRECTORS’ ASSOCIATION5
considerations are offered to other policy makers interested in addressingthe achievement gap.School boards should use this guide as a foundation in developing anaction plan specific to their school district and community for closing theachievement gap.6CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP: A POLICY ACTION GUIDE
Page 4: Table of ContentsForeword .........
Page 7 and 8: My thanks to the members of the Ach
Page 9 and 10: Assess the achievement gap problem.
Page 14 and 15: Understanding theAchievement GapWSS
Page 16 and 17: Data also show a clear pattern of a
Page 18 and 19: cient (LEP) students were dispropor
Page 20 and 21: All Students Can Learn:Evidence Tha
Page 22: The two building graphs are from Wa
Page 25 and 26: Allocation and Alignment of Fiscal
Page 27 and 28: What School Districts Are DoingIn t
Page 29 and 30: The No Child Left Behind Act (www.n
Page 31 and 32: What School Districts Are DoingThe
Page 33 and 34: Questions to Guide the Discussion1.
Page 35 and 36: economically disadvantaged families
Page 37 and 38: “We need to look inside ourdistri
Page 39 and 40: 5. To what degree have new ways to
Page 41 and 42: “Closing the achievementgap requi
Page 43 and 44: “Where there are differentlevels
Page 45 and 46: What School Districts Are DoingKenn
Page 47 and 48: 5. To what degree are parents and c
Page 49 and 50: the classroom, grade level, school
Page 51 and 52: technology and professional develop
Page 53 and 54: tion, learning environments, progra
Page 55 and 56: Statewide 6th Grade ITBS Results: 2
Page 57 and 58: Train teachers to meet the demands
Page 60 and 61: ReferencesBrumbaugh, S. (1997). “
Page 62:
Waymack N. & Drury, D. (Summer/Fall
Page 65 and 66:
Gary Wilson Principal and Linda Hah
Page 67:
Notes
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