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

Table of ContentsForeword ........................................................................................................... vIntroduction ..................................................................................................... 1The Ad Hoc Achievement Gap Task Force ........................................... 1Guiding Principles of the Task Force .................................................... 2Overview of the Policy Action Guide ............................................................ 5Understanding the Achievement Gap............................................................ 7Definition................................................................................................. 7Evidence of the Achievement Gap ........................................................ 8Understanding the Achievement Gap inEach School District ............................................................................. 11All Students Can Learn: Evidence That the Gap Can Be Closed ............. 13Closing the Achievement Gap: Key Policy Issues....................................... 17Allocation and Alignment of Fiscal Resources ................................... 18Quality Teachers and Assignment ofQualified Staff to Low-Achieving Students........................................ 21Teaching and Learning.......................................................................... 24Cultural Competence ............................................................................ 27Time and Opportunity to Learn .......................................................... 30Learning Environment .......................................................................... 34Readiness Gap and Early Intervention ............................................... 36Parent Involvement and Community Collaboration ......................... 38Assessment and Accountability ........................................................... 41Conclusions .................................................................................................... 45Other Policy Recommendations ................................................................... 49References ....................................................................................................... 53Presentations Made to the Task Force ......................................................... 57WASHINGTON STATE SCHOOL DIRECTORS’ ASSOCIATIONiii