San Diego Schools Closing Gap In Math
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Reference Education -> subcategory K-12 Education.
San Diego Schools: Progress in Closing the Math Achievement Gap
As the Class of 2007 steps into their senior year, there's cause for celebration across San Diego County's schools. In September, the San Diego County Schools announced a significant milestone: the gap in passing the math portion of the state exit exam between Black/Latino students and their White/Asian peers is nearly closed for the Class of 2006.
Over three years of student testing data reveal a positive shift, addressing the long-standing pattern of lower scores among Black and Latino students. Nationwide, similar gaps are evident in SAT scores, dropout rates, and college prep course enrollments.
Several theories exist about these disparities, ranging from societal pressures on high-achieving minority students to systemic issues like inexperienced teachers in predominantly low-income, minority schools.
However, the San Diego schools, along with other districts in the county, seem to be turning the tide. Three years ago, 42 district superintendents, including those from San Diego, committed to supporting Black and Latino students in improving their math skills. The Superintendents Achievement Gap Task Force addressed this challenge through teacher training, preparatory courses, extended teaching time for struggling students, and symposiums for educators to share strategies and successes. These diverse methods provided students with ample opportunities to thrive.
By the Class of 2006's graduation, 92.3% of Black and Latino students had passed the math test, compared to 98.5% of White and Asian students. When they first took the exam two years prior, only 65% of Black and Latino students passed, against 90% of their White and Asian counterparts.
The California High School Exit Exam assesses middle school math and some algebra, requiring a score of at least 55% to pass. Students take the exam initially in their sophomore year, with multiple opportunities to retake it during their junior and senior years. Although the test has been administered since 2001, the requirement to pass for a diploma was enforced starting with the Class of 2006.
For San Diego schools, this issue is particularly pressing, with 43% of students struggling in math, and Latino children comprising the largest ethnic group. Superintendent Carl Cohn emphasized the test's significance, highlighting its impact on students' futures, from employment opportunities to avoiding incarceration.
The National Center for Education Statistics supports this view, indicating students who take algebra in eighth grade are twice as likely to apply to a four-year college.
Despite the progress, 1,207 students from the county's Class of 2006 were denied diplomas because they did not pass the math portion. San Diego schools recognize that more work is needed to further close this gap and boost pass rates among Black and Latino students. While the achievements are commendable, the journey continues for lasting change and equity in education.
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: San Diego Schools Closing Gap In Math.
You can browse and read all the articles for free. If you want to use them and get PLR and MRR rights, you need to buy the pack. Learn more about this pack of over 100 000 MRR and PLR articles.