SEDL : What can I do to help close the achievement gap?

What is the achievement gap and why should I care?

What is the extent of the achievement gap in Texas?

What can I do to help close the achievement gap?

Educators
Find out how educators can help improve mathematics and science achievement.

Mathematics Teachers

Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development: Network Directory
ASCD sponsors these member-initiated groups that provide opportunities for involvement and sharing of information related to areas of common interest. Topics include:

African American Critical Issues
Higher Education and K-12
Hispanic/Latino-American Critical Issues

Best Practices
This page on the TEA Math Initiative provides information on practices that have promising with student groups that traditionally do not achieve as well as other groups in mathematics

Closing the Racial Achievement Gap: The Role of Reforming Instructional Practices, in Education Policy Analysis Archives, Vol. 12, No. 64, November 23, 2004
This report examines classroom practices that dis proportionately benefit minority students as a means of closing the achievement gap in math and reading . Access to the full article in PDF format is available.

Connecting with the Learner: An Equity Toolkit
This CD from North Central Eisenhower Mathematics and Science Consortium is designed to help math and science educators and parents become more aware issues that can be roadblocks to quality education for every child . Facilitators can use the activities alone or as a framework for in-depth exploration of particular equity issues.

Educational Equity for All Students
This page on the Research for Better Schools Web site provides links to programs and resources to address the achievement gap in math and science. Further exploration on this site will provide additional resources in other subject areas.

Equity
Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory provides a collection of resources focusing on Equity. Educational Equity is identified as a critical component of educational reform and should be examined by all educators and parents in any school improvement program.

Exemplary and Promising Mathematics Programs
T his publication by the U.S. Department of Education's Expert Panel on Mathematics and Science Education may be accessed through the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse Web site. Two additional programs are also listed on the ED.gov Web site.

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP)
This US Department of Education discretionary grant was designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. Texas recipients of this grant are listed below:

Houston ISD’s program known as Project GRAD
El Paso
Lee College (Baytown)
Region One (South Texas)
Texas Higher Education Board’s Go Theatre
Texas Woman’s University
University of North Texas
University of Texas at San Antonio
Ysleta ISD
Waco

Making Schools Work for Every Child
This issue of ENC Focus from the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science Education offers practical approaches to help teachers make the classroom a place where every child can succeed. After August 2005, a subscription will be required to access this and other ENC publications

Movement in the Village: Maximizing Student Potential and Closing the Achievement Gap in North Carolina
This set of tools, resources, and strategies from the North Carolina State Board of Education’s Department of Public Instruction is designed to help parents, educators, and others close achievement gaps among various populations of school students.

National Association of Elementary School Principals: Student Achievement
This page lists articles from NAESP publications that relate specifically to improving student achievement.

Assessing the Math Performance of Young ESL Students
Closing the Gap for Girls in Math-Related Careers

Promoting Diversity, Valuing Difference
This March 2002 edition of Classroom Compass, published by Southwest Educational Development Laboratory, discusses opportunities to engage a wider range of students with diverse backgrounds, interests, and experiences in solving mathematical problems.

The Minority Student Achievement Network: Research
This coalition of multiracial, relatively affluent suburban school districts studies the disparity in achievement between white students and students of color through intensive research. This page describes ongoing projects and includes results of some of their past studies. Of particular note are the Tripod Project on teacher-student relationships and the NSF project focusing on mathematics.

Title III of No Child Left Behind: A Status Report from the Great City Schools (PDF download)
Page 31 of this publication lists educational strategies and initiatives that districts reported were most effective with English language learners. These include sheltered instruction, dual language programs, regular assessments, teacher professional development, and other approaches.

My Role

Educators

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