The Achievement Gap A Generational Perspective Presented to EDUC 7752 November 11, 2008 Marjorie Economopoulos

Overview Focus on mathematics (middle & high) Gender Race/Ethnicity Data driven decision making –Education Trust, Katie Haycock presentation How does GA measure up? OK, what can we do about it all?

Before We Begin 1.Does your school practice tracking (grouping) in Mathematics, reading, other? What are a few advantages? A few disadvantages? 2.What do the students in the advanced class look like? Who are the students in the slowest group?

Gender Bias Boys v. girls –1963 adv math class at FSU (I was one of two girls in class, similar for Physics, Chem…) –Johns Hopkins research “innate ability” less for females (the math gene) –Efforts were focused, eg. AAUW, 50+ yrs –1987, Sprayberry HS, Calculus class 50% girls –Opportunities are now, still some inequities… –Awareness, concerted efforts to diminish differences

Brown v. Board of Education 50+ years later: a two tiered education system Achievement gap remains wide Efforts to close gap require change in belief systems of teachers and BOE Good results are happening Need concerted efforts to expand results

Some National Data The Education Trust, Katie Haycock –A lifelong career –Data driven results oriented –Closing the achievement gap –A passion for kids October 2008, a talk to superintendents in Springfield, Illinois

How are We Doing in GA? National Center for Educational Statistics, NAEP we are similar to nation Cobb County, CRCT, GHSGT Capital View Elementary, APS

NAEP Nation Mathematics Grade 8

NAEP Georgia Mathematics Grade 8

Cobb Co, AYP CRCT Mathematics

Cobb Co, AYP GHSGT Mathematics

Capital View Elem, APS CRCT Mathematics

Demographics of Tracking Who are the students in these classes? Advanced math classes Regular (on-level) Slow, modified, inclusion, … New HS Math curriculum is designed to help alleviate the problem, implementation only exacerbates it

What Can We Do? Speak of results, data driven decision making Use your courses at KSU to learn more about how to obtain high performing results Use your new “clout” with a Masters degree to help influence change

Discussion Presentation can be found at

References: Gender Research on the Male/Female Student Achievement Gap In 2005, the U.S. Department of Education selected WestEd as the agency to operate the Southwest Comprehensive Center (SWCC) with RMC Research Corporation and American Institutes for Research (AIR) as subcontractors on this project.WestEd For 50 years, the AAUW Educational Foundation has been breaking through barriers for women and girls. In 1958, the Educational Foundation was officially established to administer AAUW's fellowship and grant programs, advancing educational and professional opportunities for women in the United States and around the globe.. American Association of University Women

Gender cont’d Gender Gaps: Where Schools Still Fail our Children, Executive Summary American Association of University Women, follow-up to How Schools Shortchange Girls. U.S. Culture Discourages Girls from Excelling at Math October 10, 2008, Mathematical Association of America, online

References: Achievement Gap Fifty Years after Brown v. Board of Education: A Two-Tiered Education System b/80/27/f8/c7.pdf Full text report available online, published by National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future, The Education Trust, Katie Haycock, Closing the Achievement Gap, Data presentations available at

References: Data Sources Georgia Department of Education, CRCT and GHSGT b National Center for Education Statistics, NCES, NAEP data + much more Under Data Tools, various methods of reporting. Dynamic reports are really fun and powerful