Kristi Krohn & Beth PaigeKristi Krohn & Beth Paige

Closing the Closing the Achievement GapAchievement Gap

Which Achievement Gap?Which Achievement Gap?

Refers to differences in scores on state or Refers to differences in scores on state or national achievement tests between various national achievement tests between various student demographic groupsstudent demographic groups

Two kinds of gaps at the school level: Two kinds of gaps at the school level: Internal: average differences between Internal: average differences between

specific racial/ethnic groups and their white specific racial/ethnic groups and their white peers peers within a schoolwithin a school

External: average differences between External: average differences between aggregate school scores for each student aggregate school scores for each student subgroup in the school and aggregate subgroup in the school and aggregate scores for white students across the statescores for white students across the state

(Anderson, Medrich, & Fowler, 2007)(Anderson, Medrich, & Fowler, 2007)

No Child Left Behind (2001)No Child Left Behind (2001)

Increased accountability for states, school Increased accountability for states, school districts, and schools with the purpose of districts, and schools with the purpose of increasing achievementincreasing achievement

State assessments in public schools (grades 3-State assessments in public schools (grades 3-8 and at least once in HS) are required in order 8 and at least once in HS) are required in order to receive federal fundingto receive federal funding

Schools are required to use “scientifically based Schools are required to use “scientifically based research” strategies in the classroom and with research” strategies in the classroom and with staff (professional development)staff (professional development)

Adequate Yearly Progress Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)(AYP)

A set of performance targets that schools must A set of performance targets that schools must achieve to meet NCLB requirementsachieve to meet NCLB requirements

Students must be tested in Reading, Math, and Students must be tested in Reading, Math, and Science (new in 07-08)Science (new in 07-08)

10 Student Subgroups:10 Student Subgroups:•Whole school (all students)•White•Black•Hispanic•American Indian•Asian•Multi-Racial•Economically Disadvantaged (free and reduced lunch)•Limited English Proficient•Students with Disabilities

***NC ABCs also counts the following subgroups:

•Male•Female•Not Economically Disadvantaged (NED)•Migrant Students

NC ABCs of Public EducationNC ABCs of Public Education NC’s accountability program to improve student NC’s accountability program to improve student

achievement, reward excellence, and provide achievement, reward excellence, and provide assistance to schools that need extra helpassistance to schools that need extra help

Began in 1996 and was revised in 2006, Began in 1996 and was revised in 2006, comparisons to results prior to 2006 may be comparisons to results prior to 2006 may be problematicproblematic

NC ABCs, Cont’dNC ABCs, Cont’d

Performance labels:Performance labels: School of Excellence School of Excellence (90-100% above Level III)(90-100% above Level III) School of Distinction School of Distinction (80-89%)(80-89%) School of Progress School of Progress (60-79%)(60-79%) Priority SchoolPriority School (50-59%)(50-59%) Low PerformingLow Performing (less than 50%)(less than 50%)

Monetary incentives to certified staff and Monetary incentives to certified staff and teacher assistants based on performance teacher assistants based on performance levellevel

The Education TrustThe Education Trust Philosophy: All children will learn at high levels Philosophy: All children will learn at high levels

when they are taught to high levels.when they are taught to high levels. Website contains fact sheets and resources for Website contains fact sheets and resources for

educators, fact sheets on achievement for each stateeducators, fact sheets on achievement for each state

In general, results show that schools that get In general, results show that schools that get results:results: Have clear goals (standards)Have clear goals (standards) Provide all students challenging curriculum aligned to Provide all students challenging curriculum aligned to

the standardsthe standards Give extra instruction to students who need itGive extra instruction to students who need it Provide teachers who are well prepared to teach the Provide teachers who are well prepared to teach the

subjectsubject

Keep in MindKeep in Mind

Schools closing the gap are not necessarily the highest Schools closing the gap are not necessarily the highest performing schoolsperforming schools

Schools closing the gap are not necessarily making AYPSchools closing the gap are not necessarily making AYP

Schools making AYP are not necessarily closing the Schools making AYP are not necessarily closing the achievement gapachievement gap

Comparisons across states are inappropriateComparisons across states are inappropriate

(Anderson, Medrich, & Fowler, 2007)(Anderson, Medrich, & Fowler, 2007)

Local ExamplesLocal Examples

Pittsboro ElementaryPittsboro Elementary http://www.ncreportcards.org/src/schDetails.jsp?Page=2&pSchCod

e=348&pLEACode=190&pYear=2006-2007

Shepard IB Middle SchoolShepard IB Middle School http://www.ncreportcards.org/src/schDetails.jsp?http://www.ncreportcards.org/src/schDetails.jsp?

Page=2&pSchCode=338&pLEACode=320&pYear=2006-2007Page=2&pSchCode=338&pLEACode=320&pYear=2006-2007

Cedar Ridge High SchoolCedar Ridge High School http://www.ncreportcards.org/src/schDetails.jsp?Page=2&pSchCod

e=310&pLEACode=680&pYear=2006-2007

*What “scientific research based” programs are being *What “scientific research based” programs are being implemented in your school to close the gap?implemented in your school to close the gap?

Dismantling the Achievement Gap: Dismantling the Achievement Gap: What Counselors Need to KnowWhat Counselors Need to Know

ASCA and Ed Trust are holding SC accountable ASCA and Ed Trust are holding SC accountable for assisting students placed as risk (SPARS) for assisting students placed as risk (SPARS) and the teachers in the schools. and the teachers in the schools.

There is disagreement as to whether or not SC There is disagreement as to whether or not SC are prepared for the significant role in are prepared for the significant role in educational reform….well we have news for educational reform….well we have news for them….WE AREthem….WE ARE

What SC need to know!What SC need to know!

Author Pedro Portes envisions that in order to Author Pedro Portes envisions that in order to close the gap SC need to make sure close the gap SC need to make sure adolescents graduate with a set of critical adolescents graduate with a set of critical thinking skills and social knowledge. thinking skills and social knowledge.

SPARs in most schools feel academically SPARs in most schools feel academically alienated and unmotivated because they are alienated and unmotivated because they are already behind. already behind.

What can SC do to help..What can SC do to help..

Counselor education programs represent ideal Counselor education programs represent ideal field for preparing experts in primary field for preparing experts in primary intervention. intervention. This is a challenge because few policy This is a challenge because few policy

makers understand and support primary makers understand and support primary prevention as a long term approach. prevention as a long term approach.

We need to have effective prevention, We need to have effective prevention, promotion and collaboration to be promotion and collaboration to be successful! successful!

Mediation as guidanceMediation as guidance

Huge focus of the mediation of students comes Huge focus of the mediation of students comes from not only targeting the problems of SPARs from not only targeting the problems of SPARs but also their future roles as parents of SPARs but also their future roles as parents of SPARs and society.and society.

Include concept development for SPARs who Include concept development for SPARs who are ready to create zones for proximal are ready to create zones for proximal development.development.

Videos or playsVideos or plays Counselor led peer groupsCounselor led peer groups

Our roles….Our roles….

Important for SC to work proactively with Important for SC to work proactively with students, teachers, administration, parents students, teachers, administration, parents and communities. and communities.

Two new roles to take on to help reduce AG:Two new roles to take on to help reduce AG:1.1. Extend guidance activities by organizing and Extend guidance activities by organizing and

overseeing a new human growth and development overseeing a new human growth and development curriculum in secondary education. curriculum in secondary education.

2.2. Role in primary school is to focus mainly on not Role in primary school is to focus mainly on not allowing the gap to emerge by organizing support allowing the gap to emerge by organizing support for SPAR’s over time. for SPAR’s over time.

IDP?IDP?

Believed that SPAR’s students should have an Believed that SPAR’s students should have an Individualized Development Plan (IDP) to Individualized Development Plan (IDP) to determine the level of external support needed determine the level of external support needed for academic learning. Mainly done at for academic learning. Mainly done at elementary levelelementary level

Thoughts on IDP’s? Thoughts on IDP’s?

Secondary levelSecondary level

Its important for SC to learn about Its important for SC to learn about curriculum development and work with curriculum development and work with principals and teachers to design district principals and teachers to design district level programs and evaluation procedures. level programs and evaluation procedures. (Lucky for us we know how to do this!)(Lucky for us we know how to do this!)

Curriculum must be values-free and must Curriculum must be values-free and must be linked with the community!be linked with the community!

Have human development workshops for Have human development workshops for teachers, parents and others who want to teachers, parents and others who want to be aware of the growing concerns. Stress be aware of the growing concerns. Stress the importance of peers in adolescence. the importance of peers in adolescence.

What is being done to help:What is being done to help:

DeWitt Reader’s Digest initiative in DeWitt Reader’s Digest initiative in counselor education aims to transform counselor education aims to transform counselor education programs by having counselor education programs by having them play a direct role in raising test them play a direct role in raising test scores. scores.

Some resources available today:Some resources available today: BooksBooks Journal articlesJournal articles

ResourceResource

Book: School Counseling to Book: School Counseling to Close the Achievement Gap: A Close the Achievement Gap: A Social Justice Framework for Social Justice Framework for Success, written by Cheryl Success, written by Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy. Holcomb-McCoy. SC have multicultural training that SC have multicultural training that

places us at an advantage to help places us at an advantage to help close the achievement gap. close the achievement gap.

We have the power and tools to We have the power and tools to influence students!influence students!

Social Justice ApproachSocial Justice Approach

Six key functions of school Six key functions of school counselors:counselors:

1.1. Counseling and Intervention PlanningCounseling and Intervention Planning

2.2. ConsultationConsultation

3.3. Connecting Schools, Families and Connecting Schools, Families and CommunitiesCommunities

4.4. Collecting and utilizing dataCollecting and utilizing data

5.5. Challenging biasChallenging bias

6.6. Coordinating student services and Coordinating student services and supportsupport

Programs that help!Programs that help!

The American Youth Policy Forum (AYPF) is a The American Youth Policy Forum (AYPF) is a “non-partisan, non-profit professional “non-partisan, non-profit professional development organization based on development organization based on Washington, DC that provides varied learning Washington, DC that provides varied learning opportunities for individuals working on policy opportunities for individuals working on policy issues affecting youth at the local, state and issues affecting youth at the local, state and national levels” national levels”

http://www.aypf.org/publications/RAA/RAA.pdfhttp://www.aypf.org/publications/RAA/RAA.pdf

Successful programsSuccessful programs

Target:Target: Attendance and dropout ratesAttendance and dropout rates GradesGrades Credits earnedCredits earned Standardized test scoresStandardized test scores High School GraduateHigh School Graduate College Admission or completionCollege Admission or completion

5 Overarching keys to 5 Overarching keys to successsuccess

High expectations for youth, program and staffHigh expectations for youth, program and staff

Personalized attentionPersonalized attention

Innovative Structure/InnovationInnovative Structure/Innovation

Experiential learningExperiential learning

Long-term supportLong-term support

ProgramsPrograms

ABACUS/ASHS:NYABACUS/ASHS:NY AVIDAVID Boys and Girls Clubs Boys and Girls Clubs

of Americaof America Career Academies: Career Academies:

CACA College BoundCollege Bound Gateway to Higher Gateway to Higher

EducationEducation

I Have a DreamI Have a Dream Upward BoundUpward Bound Youth River WatchYouth River Watch Maryland’s Maryland’s

TomorrowTomorrow Sponsor-a-ScholarSponsor-a-Scholar Student Support Student Support

ServicesServices

ConclusionConclusion

We as SC need to advocate for our roles in We as SC need to advocate for our roles in closing the achievement gap. Go out and closing the achievement gap. Go out and let your principal know that you have let your principal know that you have training to help participate in this arena. training to help participate in this arena.

Through consultation and collaboration we Through consultation and collaboration we can all work to help make positive change. can all work to help make positive change.

Set a goal for yourself!!!! Set a goal for yourself!!!! What you can do to help close the achievement What you can do to help close the achievement

gap?gap?