Series Takes On Alabama’s Racial Achievement Gap

 ========= Old Image Removed =========1Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2017/07/ALdotComTacklingGap.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1280;s:6:"height";i:720;s:4:"file";s:31:"2017/07/ALdotComTacklingGap.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:12:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"ALdotComTacklingGap-336x189.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:189;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"ALdotComTacklingGap-771x434.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:434;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"ALdotComTacklingGap-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"ALdotComTacklingGap-768x432.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:432;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:29:"ALdotComTacklingGap-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"ALdotComTacklingGap-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"ALdotComTacklingGap-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"ALdotComTacklingGap-553x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:553;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"ALdotComTacklingGap-470x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"ALdotComTacklingGap-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"ALdotComTacklingGap-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"ALdotComTacklingGap-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => AL.com
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

)
1651923700 
1499727228

AL.com

African-American students in Alabama tend not to perform as well on standardized tests as their white counterparts. That’s part of the so-called “achievement gap,” one of the most persistent and touchiest issues in education. But a new data-driven series by Al.com, journalism nonprofits Spaceship Media and Solutions Journalism Network, and teachers from across Alabama aims to address those disparities. Lead reporter Trisha Powell Crain of Al.com talks with WBHM’s Dan Carsen about the gap, and what teachers are trying to do about it.

The Gap They’re Fighting

“There’s always been this 20- to 30-percentage-point gap between black students and white students. And there are a lot of factors. … First you look at poverty — their parents may not have the resources to give them extra opportunities, to have books at home, to transport kids to after-school activities. But there are also school-based factors. We know that black kids and Hispanic kids are less likely to be identified as gifted. Why is that? It’s not the ‘raw material’ — that’s just not the case.”

One Factor

“In places where there is segregation, high [degrees of residential] segregation — all you have to do is look at Jefferson County and you see Vestavia and Homewood — there are often large achievement gaps. I mean they can almost predict where those achievement gaps are going to be. You have to identify the problem before you can address it.”

It’s Not Simple, Not the Kid

“I think that a large portion of the public thinks they have it figured out. They think they know why there is a racial achievement gap, and it boils down to, ‘oh, it’s just the kid,’ which, research shows, it’s not the kid. But when people already think they know the answer, it’s kind of hard to present to readers that, no, it’s actually this, plus this, plus this, plus this, plus this. And the ones who want to simplify it, I think it’s a way of pushing it off to the side and saying ‘that’s not my problem.'”

Solutions?

“We’re starting to look at being very conscious about who you are identifying for [disciplining and] for gifted opportunities, being very conscious about supporting children, taking them where they are, and being deliberate in who you offer resources to. I mean, when you think about it, there’s one teacher in front of 20 kids, sometimes 30 kids, sometimes 35. So a teacher has to figure out, ‘how am I going to divide up my time? Who am I going to help? Who am I going to pay attention to?’ [Also,] are there wraparound services?’ We know in community schools where there are wraparound services available to help kids with all of that stuff outside of the school day, the children learn better. We aren’t doing that much in Alabama.”

 

Alabama governor signs shark bite alert system into law named after teen who survived attack

The system will issue a public notice to cellphones when there's been a shark attack nearby. The law is named after Mountain Brook teenager Lulu Gribbin, who was one of three people bitten by a shark during a string of attacks off the Florida Panhandle last year.

Word of the Week: Before the Birdman of Alcatraz, the island was known for its birds

The origin story of Alcatraz's name is a complicated mix of language, a history that dates back to the first Europeans to explore the coast of California, and, a flock of seabirds.

More states are allowing community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees

Diminishing access to four-year universities and majors has been holding rural students back. Community colleges say they can bridge the gap.

Kari Lake says OAN’s far-right coverage will fuel Voice of America

Senior presidential adviser Kari Lake says Voice of America will rely on coverage from the far-right OAN network. OAN has offered unwavering support of President Trump.

The Fed will likely hold interest rates steady as Trump’s tariffs spark uncertainty

The Federal Reserve will likely hold interest rates steady Wednesday as President Trump's tariffs threaten to raise prices and drag down economic growth.

Fighting loneliness in rural Maine, one casserole at a time

What happens when people put their phones down and eat together?

More Education Coverage