Achievement

1
Achievement
In America 2001
The Education Trust, Inc.
2
Section IHow Many Students Make It Through?
3
Grad Rates Flat MoreNon-Traditional Diplomas
(18-24 Year-Old High School Completers)
Source US Department of Commerce, Bureau of the
Census, Current Population Survey (CPS) October
1998
4
Students Graduate From High School At Different
Rates, 2000
Source US Bureau of Census, Current Population
Reports, Educational Attainment in the United
States March 2000, Detailed Tables No. 2
5
Most High School Grads Go On To Postsecondary
Within 2 Years
Source NELS 88, Second (1992) and Third (1994)
Follow up in, USDOE, NCES, Access to
Postsecondary Education for the 1992 High School
Graduates, 1998, Table 2.
6
Low-Income Students Attend Postsecondary at
Lower Rates
Source NELS 88, Second (1992) and Third Follow
up (1994) in, USDOE, NCES, NCES Condition of
Education 1997 p. 64
7
Fewer African Americans and Latinos Go to College
Immediately After High School
Source US Department of Commerce, Bureau of the
Census, October Current Population Survey 1998,
in NCES, The Condition of Education 2000, p. 149
8
Remediation at 4 Year-Colleges
Source Adelman, Clifford. Answers in the Tool
Box Academic Intensity, Attendance Patterns, and
Bachelors Degree Attainment.US DOE, OERI, June,
1999.
9
College Freshmen Not Returning for Sophomore Year
Source Tom Mortensen, Postsecondary Opportunity,
No. 89, November 1999
10
College Freshmen Graduating Within Six Years
(NCAA Division I)
Source 1999 NCAA Division I Graduation Rates
Report, p.636
11
Of Every 100 White Kindergartners
(24 Year-Olds)
Source US Bureau of Census, Current Population
Reports, Educational Attainment in the United
States March 2000, Detailed Tables No. 2
12
Of Every 100 African American Kindergartners
(24 Year-Olds)
Source US Bureau of Census, Current Population
Reports, Educational Attainment in the United
States March 2000, Detailed Tables No. 2
13
Of Every 100 Latino Kindergartners
(24 Year-Olds)
Source US Bureau of Census, Current Population
Reports, Educational Attainment in the United
States March 2000, Detailed Tables No. 2
14
Of Every 100 Asian Kindergartners
(24 Year-Olds)
Source US Bureau of Census, Current Population
Reports, Educational Attainment in the United
States March 2000, Detailed Tables No. 2
15
Of Every 100 Native American Kindergartners
(24 Year-Olds)
16
College Graduates by Age 24
Source Tom Mortenson, Research Seminar on Public
Policy Analysis of Opportunity for Post
Secondary, 1997.
17
Section IIWhat Do We Know About Student
Achievement?
18
In K-12, Achievement Flat

• Between 1970 and 1988, the gap between groups
  narrowed. Since 1988, the gap has grown or
  remained the same.

19
Gap Narrows, Then Widens NAEP Reading Scores, 17
Year-Olds
Source US Department of Education, National
Center for Education Statistics. NAEP 1999 Trends
in Academic Progress (p. 107) Washington, DC US
Department of Education, August 2000
20
Gap Narrows, Then Widens NAEP Math Scores, 13
Year-Olds
Source US Department of Education, National
Center for Education Statistics. NAEP 1999 Trends
in Academic Progress (p. 108) Washington, DC US
Department of Education, August 2000
21
Too Few 17 Year-Olds Demonstrate Strong Reading
Skills
Source USDOE, NCES, 1999 NAEP Summary Data Tables
22
Too Few 17 Year-Olds Demonstrate Strong Math
Skills
Source USDOE, NCES, 1999 NAEP Summary Data Tables
23
African American and Latino 17 Year Olds Do Math
at Same Levels As White 13 Year-Olds
Source USDOE, NCES 1999 NAEP Summary Tables
online.
24
African American and Latino 17 Year Olds Read at
Same Levels as White 13 Year-Olds
Source USDOE, NCES, 1999 NAEP Summary Tables
online.
25
Why?
26
What We Hear Adults Say

• Theyre poor
• Their parents dont care
• They come to schools without breakfast
• Not enough books
• Not enough parents . . .

27
But if theyre right, then why are poor and
minority children performing so high in some
schools . . .
28
Wrigley Elementary SchoolKentucky

• 78 poverty
• 3rd in the state in reading
• 6th in the state in writing

Source Susan Perkins Weston, KY Association of
School Councils, 1999 KY Elementary School
Performance and Poverty Report
29
Mount Royal SchoolBaltimore, MD

• 77 Poverty
• 99 African American
• Highest 5th grade math results in the state
  (over 93 scoring at satisfactory level)

Source Maryland Department of Education
Website.1999 Scores
30
some districts . . .
31
All Groups Gain in El Paso El Paso TAAS Pass
Rates Math Grades 3, 8 and 10
Source Texas Education Agency-Academic
Excellence Indicator System Report 1994 through
1999. From the El Paso Collaborative for Academic
Excellence.
32
And some entire states . . .
33
4th Grade Math African American Gains Between
1992 and 1996
Source USDOE, NCES, National Assessment of
Educational Progress (NAEP) Summary Data Tables
34
4th Grade Math Latino Gains Between 1992 and 1996
Source USDOE, NCES, National Assessment of
Educational Progress (NAEP) Summary Data Tables
35
NAEP 4th Grade Reading U.S. and North Carolina
Change in Average Scores From 1992-1998
Source USDOE, NCES, National Assessment of
Educational Progress (NAEP) Summary Data Tables
36
Connecticut Gains in Grade 4 Reading Outpace the
Nation, 1994-98
Source USDOE, NCES, National Assessment of
Educational Progress (NAEP) Summary Data Tables
37
African Americans in Texas Write as Well or
Better Than Whites in 7 States
Source USDOE, NCES, National Assessment of
Educational Progress (NAEP) Summary Data Tables
38
What We Hear Students SayWe CAN Learn, But

• some teachers dont know their subjects
• counselors underestimate our potential
• principals dismiss concerns
• curriculum and expectations are low

39
When Asked Students Main Plan After High School,
Expectations Differed
Source Metropolitan Life, Survey of the
American Teacher 2000 Are We Preparing Students
for the 21st Century?, September 2000, p. 80.
40
Section IIIWhat Do We Know About Improving
Results?
41
1. We Need Clear Goals

• The Role of Standards

42
Historically, No Agreement on What Students
Should Learn Or What Kind of Work Is Good Enough
43
These Decisions Left, Often, to Individual
Teachers and Schools
44
What Teenagers Say About School Rigor

• Fewer than 3 in 10 think their school is very
  academically rigorous

Source 1998 Annual Survey for Whos Who Among
American High School Students
45
A Work in Poor Schools Would Earn Cs in
Affluent Schools
Source Prospects (ABT Associates, 1993), in
Prospects Final Report on Student Outcomes,
PES, DOE, 1997.
46
Standards Make a Difference
47
Kentucky Elementary Reading Top 20 Schools
1 38 Poverty 2 0.2 Poverty 3 78
Poverty Total High Poverty Schools in Top 20 7
Source Susan Perkins Weston, KY Association of
School Councils, 1999 KY Elementary School
Performance and Poverty Report
48
Kentucky Elementary Top 20 Schools

• Mathematics Top 20 Includes 8 High Poverty
  Schools
• Writing Top 20 Includes 13 High Poverty Schools

High Poverty is defined as greater than 40 free
and reduced price lunch.
Source Susan Perkins Weston, KY Association of
School Councils, 1999 KY Elementary School
Performance and Poverty Report
49
2. All Kids Need a Rigorous Curriculum Matched
With Standards
50
Students Taking a Rigorous Math Curriculum Score
Higher
Source National Assessment of Educational
Progress, 1992 Mathematics Trend Assessment,
National Center for EducationalStatistics. NAEP
1992 Trends in Academic Progress (p 113).
Washington, DC US Department of Education. 1994
51
Students Who Take Algebra Show Greater Gains in
Mathematics Achievement
Source Algebra for Everyone? Benefits of
College-Preparatory Mathematics for Students With
Diverse Abilities in Early SecondarySchool,
Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, Vol.
22, Fall 2000.
52
Students In Vocational Courses Do Not Develop
Strong Reading Skills
Source US Department of Education, National
Center for Education Statistics. Vocational
Course-Taking and Achievement An Analysis of
High School Transcripts and 1990 NAEP Assessment
Scores (p. 20) Washington, DC US Department of
Education, May 1995.
53
Vocational Students Taking High-Level English
Courses Score Higher
Source Bottoms, Gene. High School That Work,
SREB, 1998.
54
Low Quartile Students Gain More From College Prep
Courses
Grade 8-12 test score gains based on 8th grade
achievement.
Source USDOE, NCES, Vocational Education in the
United States Toward the Year 2000, in Issue
Brief Students Who Prepare for College and
Vocation
55
Low-Income Students Less Likely to be Enrolled in
a College Preparatory Track
Source US Department of Education, National
Center for Education Statistics. National
Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 Second
Follow-Up, 1992 in A Profile of the American
High School Senior in 1992. (p. 36) Washington,
DC US Department of Education, June 1995.
56
African American and Latino 10th Graders Less
Likely to be Enrolled in a College Preparatory
Track
Source US Department of Education, National
Center for Education Statistics. National
Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 First
Follow-Up Student Study.
57
Change Can Happen Quickly
58
New York City 9th Graders Passing Regents Science
Source New York City Chancellors Office Annual
Report on the Mathematics and Science Initiative
in the High Schools, 1995.
59
3. Provide Extra Help for Students Who Need It
60
When Kids Are Behind, Schools Must Provide More
Instruction and Support

• Kentucky provides extra time for struggling
  students in high-poverty schools
• Maryland offers extra dollars for 7th and 8th
  graders who need more support
• San Diego doubles time in literacy and
  mathematics for kids below grade level

61
4. Teachers Matter Hugely
62
Many Secondary Students Have Teachers Without a
Major or Minor in Teaching Field
Source Richard M. Ingersoll, "The Problem of
Underqualified Teachers in American Secondary
Schools," Educational Researcher, Vol. 28,
Number 2, March 1999
63
Classes in High Poverty High Schools More Often
Taught by Underqualified Teachers
Teachers who lack a major or minor in the
field Source National Commission on Teaching and
Americas Future, What Matters Most Teaching for
Americas Future (p.16) 1996.
64
Math and Science Classes of Mostly Minority
Students Are More Often Taught by Underqualified
Teachers
Source Jeannie Oakes. Multiplying Inequalities
The Effects of Race, Social Class, and Tracking
on Opportunities to Learn Mathematics and
Science (Rand 1990)
65
Boston Students with Effective Teachers Showed
Greater Gains in Reading and Math
Source Boston Public Schools, High School
Restructuring, March 9, 1998.
66
Cumulative Effects On Students Math Scores
Dallas (Grades 3-5)
Source Heather Jordan, Robert Mendro, Dash
Weerasinghe, Teacher Effects On Longitudinal
Student Achievement 1997.
67
Cumulative Effects of Teacher Sequence on Fifth
Grade Math Scores Tennessee
Source Sanders, William L. and June C. Rivers,
"Cumulative and Residual Effects of Teachers on
Future Student Academic Achievement," 1996.
68
African American Students More Likely To Have
Ineffective Teachers Tennessee
Source Sanders, William L. and Rivers, June C.
Cumulative And Residual Effects of Teachers on
Future Student Academic Achievement, 1996
69
Teachers in High Poverty Schools Spend Less Time
Developing Reasoning Skills
Source NAEP 1996 Math Data Tables (NCES, US
Department of Education)
70
More African American and Latino 12th Graders Do
Daily Worksheets
Source 1996 Summary Data NAEP Math
71
Percentage of Students Who Use Computers
Primarily for . . .
Source Education Week, Technology Counts 98
(Washington DC Editorial Projects in Education,
October 1998)
72
African Americans Are Less Likely to Get Hands on
Science
Source NCES, NAEP Summary Data Tables, 1996.
73
Changing This Pattern

• Time and Supports for Teachers Are Key

74
High Implementation Schools Wipe Out Black/White
Gap in Math Skills Pittsburgh
Note Chart compares students in schools with
similar demographics. Source Briar and Resnick,
CSE Technical Report 528, CRESST, UCLA, August
2000.
75
In Math Problem-Solving, Black Students in High
Implementation Schools Outperform White Students
in Other Schools
Source Briar and Resnick, CSE Technical Report
528, CRESST, UCLA, August 2000.
76
El Paso Schools
Source Texas Education Agency online,
www.tea.state.tx.us, 2000 District Accountability
Summary
77
El Paso TAAS Pass Rates Reading Grades 3, 8 and 10
Source Texas Education Agency - Academic
Excellence Indicator System Report 1994 through
1999
78
The Education Trust

• For More Information . . .
• www.edtrust.org
• 202-293-1217