Achievement Gap

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Somewhere between 20-30% of students at each KIPP campus in DC are classified as non-economically disadvantaged. Is that not enough to count as SES integration?

If I'm reading you correctly (and maybe I'm not) then no. 70-80% FARMS is not a well-integrated school, SES-wise. Now, looking at KIPP's record, that apparently has no bearing on the ability to educate and graduate their students successfully. But in answer to your specific question, no that is not integrated.

[Anonymous]

I have co-workers, mostly secretaries in at the law firm where I work that have children at KIPP. Here is how I see SES and KIPP, it is very focused on teaching middle class values and achievement norms. The people I know for any number of reasons, family obligations, single parents want their children to have opportunity and know the local schools and frankly parenting skills of the local kids won't give their kids the opportunity. So no you will not have the economic profile of the JKLMM schools at KIPP but most schools nation-wide won't because that area is incredibly wealthy. But you have a majority of parents who think of themselves in an upwardly mobile kind of way and that makes a lot of difference.

[Anonymous]

Wealthy parents don't necessary equal to smart children or high achievers. However, the environment where they put these children in (such as Sidwell, Capital Day, Field, G'town) is a tremendous boost. They get to meet the sons and daughters of presidents, ambassadors, senators and the like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No there are things that can be done that may be able to help some kids stay above water and at some point in their life figure out if they want to aspire to the middle class. That means a much better content rich curriculum than we currently have. It means better communication from schools to parents. But folks should keep in mind Europe may be a lot less successful at this than one would hope especially in their ethnic enclaves. Poor kids are healthier in Europe but they are not necessarily better educated or able to get jobs.

Can you point to a place that has worked as you suggest? Where has an urban system with concentrated poverty used an enriched curriculum and better communication to improve schools?

Yes the turn of the twentieth century. Period of intense immigration and poverty. There were standardized primers that had a wide range of high quality literature that was used. It was not perfect but it made a huge difference. E.D. Hirsch makes a good case for this historical precedent in

The Making of Americans: Democracy and Our Schools.

Couple of things to think about- the gap in Math is decreasing, but not in reading. It is not just teachers. Most literacy especially at the higher grades is not about decoding it is about connecting ideas. One of the most consistent gaps we see for poor kids is their exposure to books.

I think you've solved your own mystery here. Give me a population consisting of nothing but recent working-class immigrants from Asia and I'll give you a massive improvement in schools. Immigrants have, by definition, many of the underlying social skills required for success and are able to pass them on to their kids. Fourth generation unemployed mom in the projects, not so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the idea of "parental involvement" is confusing. I think it is less about a parent hovering and helping with homework and volunteering at school than it is about a parent instilling basic values and discipline in their kids

:i.e. school is important, you must respect your teachers and fellow students, hard work is required, YOU are responsible for getting your homework finished, failure is an opportunity for learning. As well as maintaining a calm, quiet home that is conducive to studying and getting enough rest.

I doubt generations of immigrant parents had time to sit and monitor homework, but they certainly instilled values of hardwork, appreciation for education and responsibility in their kids.

It is not about money. I have lived in many places around the world where kids literally, truly didn't have enough to eat but even the youngest left their homes each morning in spotless uniforms, made their way to distant schools and took their lessons and their teachers with complete seriousness. Poverty does not mean kids can't acheive. That is an excuse.

Parental involvement is not about time and money, it is a state of mind

Yup.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone tracked the gaps between Asians and Whites?