"Still Left Behind"
The year 2014 is the deadline set by the 'No Child Left Behind' law for schools to close the test-score gaps between minority and white students. News articles over the past two weeks indicate that a half dozen recent studies reveal that little progress has been made towards that goal over the past five years.
The reports tell us that the test score gaps between black or Hispanic students and whites appear in KINDERGARTEN and worsen through 12 years of education.
Recently, I was with several United Way volunteers visiting Madison, Wisconsin to learn more about how Dane County has closed the racial achievement gap over the past ten years. Where there once was a 20% difference in performance in schools, the community now finds itself essentially having eliminated the gap.
As I read the recent articles on the lack of progress across the country and in Southeastern Michigan, I thought about what happened in Dane County. Ten year's ago, this community announced publicly that it was going to eliminate the racial achievement gap. This wasn't just a school issue. Rather, it was everyone's issue. They realized that gap couldn't be solved by just the schools. So they started down a new path --- one that required a 'collective approach' to foster progress.
The media was invited in to observe and report on the messy work that was going to take place over the coming months....years. The three sectors of the community -- public, private and non-profits --- got focused on the goal. Volunteers were recruited to begin working with children on their reading. Corporations and local citizens contributed money to help with the project. Parents were provided a network to ensure that they all realize a fundamental truth: a parent is a child's first and most important teacher.
There will be much debate in the months ahead on what is required to see the nation make greater progress on closing this gap. I don't presume for one minute there is a clear cut answer. But I do believe this issue is solvable. Why? Because over and over you find pockets of success. You see the necessary alignment of resource, tools, talent and focus. Moving that success to scale is the next frontier of development. One of the key first steps to that frontier will be changing the optics from 'it's the school's issue' to 'it's our issue.'
Someone once told me that when you think the problem is out there, that's the problem. Progress will only take place when there is a community will for results and the necessary leadership to do the heavy lifting for the long haul.
If you are interested in learning more about the recent findings, go to the New York Times magazine article.
Thanks for reading, pass it on.
The reports tell us that the test score gaps between black or Hispanic students and whites appear in KINDERGARTEN and worsen through 12 years of education.
Recently, I was with several United Way volunteers visiting Madison, Wisconsin to learn more about how Dane County has closed the racial achievement gap over the past ten years. Where there once was a 20% difference in performance in schools, the community now finds itself essentially having eliminated the gap.
As I read the recent articles on the lack of progress across the country and in Southeastern Michigan, I thought about what happened in Dane County. Ten year's ago, this community announced publicly that it was going to eliminate the racial achievement gap. This wasn't just a school issue. Rather, it was everyone's issue. They realized that gap couldn't be solved by just the schools. So they started down a new path --- one that required a 'collective approach' to foster progress.
The media was invited in to observe and report on the messy work that was going to take place over the coming months....years. The three sectors of the community -- public, private and non-profits --- got focused on the goal. Volunteers were recruited to begin working with children on their reading. Corporations and local citizens contributed money to help with the project. Parents were provided a network to ensure that they all realize a fundamental truth: a parent is a child's first and most important teacher.
There will be much debate in the months ahead on what is required to see the nation make greater progress on closing this gap. I don't presume for one minute there is a clear cut answer. But I do believe this issue is solvable. Why? Because over and over you find pockets of success. You see the necessary alignment of resource, tools, talent and focus. Moving that success to scale is the next frontier of development. One of the key first steps to that frontier will be changing the optics from 'it's the school's issue' to 'it's our issue.'
Someone once told me that when you think the problem is out there, that's the problem. Progress will only take place when there is a community will for results and the necessary leadership to do the heavy lifting for the long haul.
If you are interested in learning more about the recent findings, go to the New York Times magazine article.
Thanks for reading, pass it on.
posted by UWSEM webmaster at
3:27 PM
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