Achievement issue comes down to money

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Achievement issue comes down to money
But raising scores at schools will take time, forum says

The crowd crammed into the auditorium at the downtown Seattle Public Library was friendly, but the questions were tough.

What causes the academic achievement gap between white or Asian students, and other children of color? Why are some schools able to make more progress in closing the gap? And why isn't there more momentum to solve this problem?

Eliminating the achievement gap has been a goal for decades, and there are no simple answers, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson told the audience of nearly 200 parents and education activists Wednesday.

Educators know children from all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds can learn, she said. Solving the problem will require action by adults -- legislators providing more money for public education; parents being involved with their children's education; and teachers keeping expectations high for all students and intervening to help those who struggle, she said.

"This is the most important issue facing our nation today," she said. "We are responsible morally, ethically ... and we're not doing very well."

For nearly two hours, Bergeson, Seattle School Board member Darlene Flynn and the district's chief academic officer, Carla Santorno, discussed factors that contributed to the gap, and potential solutions.

The trio recommended a few crucial first steps:

Lobby legislators for better funding, especially state money to pay for all-day kindergarten, so that students are better prepared for school, with strong vocabularies and good social skills.

Develop a short list of state-approved math curricula that districts can choose from, to streamline instruction in math -- a subject many students struggle to grasp.

Provide more training for teachers and school administrators, to help them make lessons more relevant to students from different cultures, for example.

Santorno said the Seattle district is already planning a two-week "boot camp" for principals next year, to enhance their management skills while also emphasizing the academic side of the job and helping them develop into strong coaches for teachers.

Seattle Council PTSA President Sherry Carr said the forum was helpful, and that the steps needed to close the gap are clear. The focus now needs to be on pushing for more education funding, she said, or no substantial changes can be made.

"We can know what we need to do -- but if you're underresourced, it's not going to happen," she said.

The forum was organized by Stephan Blanford, community relations manager for the Alliance for Education, a non-profit group that raises money for Seattle Public Schools.

It can be easy to lose sight of the achievement-gap issue, he said, and the forum was valuable in getting people talking -- but real solutions will take time.

"It depends on public will," he said. "And I don't think we're there yet."

P-I reporter Jessica Blanchard can be reached at 206-448-8322 or jessicablanchard@seattlepi.com.

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