There has always been challenges in the educational system, but the challenges that seem to linger and show significant impacts with students time after time is the achievement gap. Socioeconomic status, low teacher retention, fewer advance placement, teacher bias and stereotyping, and crisis and armed conflict play a tough reality in student's achievement success.
Regardless of these challenges, experts have not given up on trying to close these gaps.
As more jobs are requiring knowledge in technology, students who do not have the access to technology are left behind creating the achievement gap. Programs like Title 1 have helped close these gaps by providing assistance to districts that fall under the poverty line.
Fields like STEAM have been a growing interest over the years engaging students of all ethnicities, ages, and gender to explore possible career paths.
- Significant Challenges >Achievement Gap
Hirn, R. G., Hollo, A., & Scott, T. M. (2018). Exploring instructional differences and school performance in high- poverty elementary schools. Preventing school failure, 1, 37.
Scogin, S. C., Cavlazoglu, B., LeBlanc, J., & Stuessy, C. L. (2018). Inspiring science achievement: a mixed methods examination of the practices and characteristics of successful science programs in diverse high schools. Cultural Studies of Science Education, 13(3), 649–670.
Camasso, M. J., & Jagannathan, R. (2018). Improving academic outcomes in poor urban schools through nature-based learning. Cambridge Journal of Education, 48(2), 263–277. https://doi-org.ezproxy.shsu.edu/10.1080/0305764X.2017.1324020
Many of the children in the district I work in face drastic gaps continuously because of the very factors that you stated above. Socioeconomic status, teacher bias and retention, and conflict all playing huge parts in the lack of student success within my district. Many of us do work hard to attempt to close those gaps, but there is only so much we can do when there is not the support of the parents, other teachers, some admin, the state with funds, etc. It seems like such a vicious and unfortunate cycle that we just can't seem to break and dissolve.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much involved in ensuring our student's success. They need consistency and unfortunately many times the only place they find that is in school. We, as educators, play an important role in school making sure that our students receive the same education as all the other students. Closing the gap is a term I have been listening to over 20 years now and despite all the challenges we are making gains. They may be small but it has been gradual.
ReplyDeleteEducation today has significant challenges arising constantly as the achievement gap progresses. However, curriculums that include STEAM could do well to make connections.
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