Segment: "The Education Achievement Gap: Minnesota's Embarrassment"

The following questions are based on the Minnesota Public Radio feature "The Education Achievement Gap: Minnesota's Embarrassment"

Reading Comprehension

Read the abridged article by Tim Pugmire: Racial Learning Gap Defies Easy Explanation or Solution

Answer the following questions:


1. From highest to lowest, how do various ethnic groups perform on statewide tests?
2. Mark Davison identifies a specific problem for disadvantaged students. What is that problem?
3. How is the Achievement Gap defined?
4. Several possible causes for the Achievement Gap are identified. Name three.
5. When does Goldee Shear say that students have the best chance of getting back on a successful track?
6. Educators have attempted to reduce the Achievement Gap by making class sizes smaller and expanding pre-school programs. What other efforts have they made?

Read the abridged article by Dan Olson: The Cost of Minnesota's Racial Achievement Gap

Answer the following questions:


1. What long-term costs of the Achievement Gap do Felicia Thomas and Eugene Faizon experience?
2. What reason does Felicia Thomas give for going back to school?
3. What is the difference in potential income for a person who does not complete high school, versus a person who gets at least some post-high school training?
4. Does Eugene Faizon feel he is successful? Why or why not?
5. The Achievement Gap is described as a cycle. Explain how it is a cycle.
6. What does Barry Shaffer say is the way to break this cycle?

Answer key

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Listening Comprehension Questions

Read the following questions, then listen to "Roots of Gap Based in Race, Culture Differences" to find the answers.
Listen to the special (7:38)

1. What is Brown vs. Board of Education?
2. What reason is given for Bill Cosby's anger at the NAACP ceremony?
3. Ronald Ferguson suggests several factors that contribute to the Achievement Gap. What are they?
4. Students of color experience a unique kind of peer pressure when they perform well in school. They are sometimes accused of ______________.
5. Culturally-specific educational programs can found in the Twin Cities' __________________ system.
6. Seed Academy/Harvest Prepartory School is a unique program. What are three ways in which this school is different from other schools?
7. What does Eric Mahmoud feel matters most to students about their teachers?

Answer key

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Critical Thinking Questions

These activities are based on the (abridged) articles by Lorna Benson: Can Early Ed Close the Gap? and Tim Pugmire: Closing the Gap: One School's Approach

Answer the following questions:

1. What is the scientific reason disadvantaged students often fall behind in academic achievement?
2. Discuss the economics of the achievement gap: Which children in society fall behind? Why is it less expensive to deliver good education to very young children (ages 1-5) than to older students (15-20)?
3. What is the relationship between the success of our educational system and the rate of crime in our state? Do you believe there is a relationship and why or why not?
4. What is implied (in the Pugmire article) by the expression "cleaning house?" What does it mean, and what was done to "clean" house?
5. What was Mr. Sheppard's "formula?" Do you think it would work in your school? Why or why not?

Discussion Items: Divide the students into two groups and prepare debates on the following topics:

• The state should pay for early education; it should design early education programs for children from age 1-5.
• The state should require that all schools meet a certain standard, and should take over those that do not.

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Research Challenges

1. Study 4-5 schools in your neighborhood. Find out the average class size and then find out their scores on reading and math tests. Then compare the scores together with class size and decide if there is a relationship between the numbers.
2. Investigate the Brown vs. Board of Education (1954) Supreme Court decision and the struggles of the Civil Rights era. Based on what you find, argue for or against Bill Cosby's opinions on today's youth.
3. Who is Bill Cosby and why does his opinion matter?
4. Interview an adult you know about the role of education in his or her career.
5. Wisconsin is the only state with a wider Achievement Gap than Minnesota. Do you think there is a reason that such a wide achievement gap exists in the Midwest? Find out what you can about achievement gaps in other Midwestern states.
6. We heard a lot about environment in these articles. Describe the best environment for your own learning. Do so in any way you wish - in written word, a visual representation, spoken word, etc. What would you put in your space? Be sure to include details.
7. Reflect on your experience in school. Do you have a favorite or memorable teacher? What about him or her made an impact on you? Try to find this teacher, and share your classroom memories with that person.
8. Do you know someone whose racial heritage is different than yours? Discuss his or her school experiences and compare/contrast them to your own.
9. People who cannot speak English experience a great deal of hardship. Find out what languages are spoken by students at your school, and what your school does to help students learn English.

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Key Terms and Topics

Terms

From "Racial Learning Gap Defies Easy Explanation or Solution" isolated Asians Hispanics American Indian African Americans evidence attitude motivation expanded mentors nurture national priority performance punitive proficiency From "The Cost of Minnesota's Achievement Gap" long-term cost visible employer diploma dropout educate diminished earning power income scenario education history economic status marginal indicator reliable From "Roots of Gap Based in Race, Class, Culture Differences" scholar remedies genetically inferior barrier Brown vs. Board of Education commemorate desegregate Ebonics squander impoverished vocational training peer pressure 'acting white' accusation superior condescending alienated curriculum charter school system Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments multiracial predominantly race-blind racial parity

From "Can Early Ed Close the Gap?" developing brain evict environment interfere unemployed stimuli ratio economist scholarship endowment favorable government-sponsored dysfunctional proponent From "Closing the Gap: One School's Approach" transient morale reconstitution commitment significant discipline climate tough love veteran colleague personalized instruction potential autobiographical aspiring demographics

Answer key

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