Considerable research has focused on trying to identify and address essential factors contributing to the persisting United States racial achievement gap. Research demonstrates that these contributing factors exist both within the school and classroom walls, as well as externally in the home environment or during summer months (see here and here ). Many of these factors such as summer learning loss and limited school resources are addressable through policy shifts or better funding distribution. However, several serious contributors are substantially more difficult to recognize and resolve as they are happening in the unconscious, such as teachers implicit racial bias. Continue reading
Tag: Universal Preschool
Countless studies have shown the immense impacts, both short-term and long-term, that a preschool education has on children. The question is, though, why aren’t more children enrolled in preschool, and what is stopping us from achieving universal preschool? Continue reading
There are many changes that need to be made to help close the achievement gap, but what is the most important? Some will argue that the problem is teacher quality, parent involvement or the reading skills that students from low income families lose when they leave school for summer vacation. Although those problems may be true, universal preschool learning is the biggest adjustment that needs to be made to help close this gap. Continue reading