Closing the Achievement Gap

By Dr. Stephen Jones

In many cities and rural areas across America students are three to four years behind their grade level in all subjects.  It is a gap that has persisted more than 40 years since the War on Poverty.  The thought was that socio-economic conditions of students caused to the achievement gap to persist.  The new battle is to determine how to improve the intellectual capacity of students who are not making sufficient academic progress even with added finances and academic support programs.  It seems that students are stuck in schools that are fighting to survive.  The strategy to make a difference in student performance must be far reaching.  There are ways to invest in a child’s success that requires devotion to expanding in school and out of school learning opportunities.  It must be an academic strategy that engages students, parents and teachers who see education as the final frontier of economic change.

So what are the new and innovative strategies that will close the gaps?  They are peculating in the minds of teachers and students who sit in classes every day.  Their creative thoughts are often locked away in the boredom of the daily routine that students experience in the classroom.  It’s time to revolutionize the learning opportunities that occur in classrooms each day.  Students will run to their classes when they believe that a teacher has a vested interest in their participation.  Something wonderful happens when teachers believe that students have the capacity to solve complex problems and when teachers invest time during school and after school hours.  I have seen it happen when students are participating in robotics clubs.  Their attendance increases and the dropout rates are reduced.

A student’s education must not be an experiment that is changing every day.  Students must feel that there is a consistent opportunity to learn.  Students can benefit from hands on experiments that allow them to understand concepts that make learning come alive. There is a need to eliminate the disjointed education that broadens the gap in the student’s development.  The gap can be closed with an immediate and persistent commitment to having a new view of the possible educational attainment levels of students.  The new expectation is that students can catch up to their expected level of education attainment.

There is a need to increase the level of innovative experiences that happen in each classroom. There has not been an explosion of innovative thinking because of the chains that a standardized curriculum has placed on creativity. Students rely heavily on memorizing materials for test and this does not lead to innovative thinking.  The challenge for learning is placed on the student.  A better approach is to increase the opportunity for learning to occur as a partnership between the student and teacher.  This is a different concept that is catching on in some classrooms.  It is possible for students to learn how to contribute to the success of their own classroom learning environment. There advice can increase the success subsequent classes. Students can also come back to a school district as teachers and alumni who have a strong desire to open the doors of learning for others.

The use of technology can help to lead students out of the dull drums of their daily curriculum. Students need greater exposure to technology in every aspect of their learning experience.  Innovation in the use of technology is occurring in every area of a 21st century student’s life.  Yet in many classrooms technology is not being used as a learning tool.  Technology is not used to its fullest potential because more teachers need training.  There are many technology options, including smart boards, ipods, ipads, laptops and iphones.  These methods of communication can offer very unique learning experiences.  A student can down load a lesson and listen to it anywhere and they can submit reports electronically.  There is no limit to the location where a student can be when they are learning.  College students across America use wireless laptops on the outside and inside of buildings.  Students can create movies that incorporate visual and audio media in their presentations and submit them to their teachers instead of book reports. This technology can also be a great way to prepare students for their career.

Students also need more opportunities to explore careers and to learn by doing.   They need to see how companies are changing the criteria for their workforce.  Too often students do not know how their education matches with the available jobs.  Career day should not be held once a year.  Students need real time information about how technology is changing jobs.  Both companies and colleges need a direct link with local schools.  Some colleges have found a way to invest in local schools through the GK12 program which is sponsored by the National Science foundation.  Each of the GK12 projects are unique, but they recognize the value that additional technology support and resources can bring into classroom settings.

The mission of the classroom cannot remain the same as it was over a century ago. The strategy for reaching every student should be at the forefront of every superintendent’s agenda.  Some school districts have seen the value of ensuring that students serve on their curriculum and instruction committee to recommend new ideas.  Many of the greatest thoughts about how to interest students in coming to school to learn has been the result of student involvement at all levels of a school district. Students can go out and conduct real time interviews with students to find out some of the best practices that students are using in their schools.  The results can be shared with the administrators and teachers who will then have an opportunity to implement some of the ideas.

Parents also play a vital role in the making the classroom a place where students can learn.  The challenge is to engage the parents in the life of the school in the same way that the school districts reach out to students.  A worthwhile investment might include compensating some of the teachers to be community liaisons that regularly are visible at community events.  It’s important to help parents to understand how they can increase learning opportunities in their local community.  Parents are also looking for education materials that are  easy to implement in their homes. Teachers can offer advice and send home information that will make it easier to learn their subject.   There are also many mentoring organizations that are reaching out to the parents to involve their children.  It takes more than one person’s investment in a child to prepare them for their future.

The evidence of classrooms that are closing the achievement gap occurs when student’s grades rise along with their attendance.  We must change the way that classrooms are organized to raise each student’s energy level and enthusiasm. A classroom should be a place where teachers can make students feel that they are expanding their minds.  When a student’s attendance rate is stable and the teacher is consistently the same they are able to grasp instruction better.  The teacher can expect their students to have the ability to learn. Students benefit when they are given a good environment to study in their classroom and at home.  The journey to academic success is paved with hopes and dreams of students who fill classrooms every day.  There is no limit to what a student can achieve.