Closing the Achievement Gap: Achieving Equity, Excellence, and Success in Our Schools
“The achievement gap” is a term we commonly hear when discussing disparities in academic success between different groups of students. The gap exists when students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds perform at a significantly lower level than their more affluent peers.
There are a variety of factors that contribute to the achievement gap. One of the most important is the level of poverty in a school district. Poorly performing schools tend to have a higher concentration of low-income students, which puts these students at a disadvantage in terms of both academic achievement and chances for success in life.
Another important factor is the diversity of a school’s student body. Schools with a large proportion of low-income or minority students typically have lower achievement levels than schools with a more homogeneous student body. This is because lower-income and minority students face unique challenges in terms of both academic achievement and success in life.
Schools can combat the achievement gap by implementing a number of strategies. These include providing additional resources (such as tutoring and enrichment programs) to low-income and minority students, hiring teachers with more experience working with these groups of students, and creating a positive environment in which all students can learn.
Closing the achievement gap is a complex task, but it is one that is worth undertaking. Doing so will not only help students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds improve their academic performance, but it will also help them achieve their full potential in life.
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