Concerned Parents of Color: The SAT (and other) Performance Gaps

Posted by: rbutler on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 09:04 PM Print article   Email to a friend

A myriad of reasons and solutions have been proposed over the years for the standardized test performance gap between Black and White high school students.  Also at the outset CPC wants to say that there are many Black students who are performing extremely well in school, so please do not use the words that follow to paint all students with the same brush.  Look at the individual.

In the accompanying article, the Concerned Parents of Color will share o­ne we believe clarifies both the problem and solution.Journal of Blacks in Higher Education (Issue 49)

http://www.jbhe.com/features/49_college_admissions-test.html

This article summarizes the Black versus White student SAT performance gap in a way that seems both reasonable and solvable.
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"Given the huge differences in course study between black and white high school students, it comes as no surprise that white SAT scores are significantly higher than black SAT scores."

Simply put this means that o­n average Black high school students are taking less challenging courses than their White counterparts, hence a gap results o­n standardized tests of performance and achievement (SAT, ACT, MCAS, NAEP, you name it).

This is a subject CPC has brought up many times.  In Framingham High School, if you are doing well in CP level 2 courses then take CP Level 1 courses.  If you are doing well in CP level 1 courses then take Honors courses.  If you are doing well in Honors courses then take Advanced Placement courses.

The obvious solution however begins long before high school.  In elementary and middle school, Black students must in increasing numbers, take similar challenging courses and be exposed to similar challenging experiences as their white counterparts in order to adequately prepare them to take the similar courses of study in high school that will lead to a significant decrease in the SAT Gap.

How can this be accomplished?  Through <FONT color=#ff4500>committment and <FONT color=#ff4500>communication.  Committment to learning and doing what is required and communication about what has worked and what hasn't worked.

I am still suprised when I learn of students today in our church who as sophomores did NOT take the PSAT, or those who entered their senior year without ever having taken a practice SAT or PSAT.  Over forty years ago I was told this, yet today it is still not getting passed along.
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COMMITTMENT & COMMUNICATION