Achievement Gap Closing For Black Students

Statistics Show Disparity Higher in Middle Schools

The achievement gap between African American students and their classmates has slowly narrowed in many areas in Anne Arundel County, according to new figures. But the disparity, especially in middle school grades, remains significant, and the number of black students being expelled and suspended remains much higher than among their peers.

The figures were released last week by the county school system as part of a 2005 agreement with the U.S. Justice Department after local civil rights groups and parents filed a complaint to the Office for Civil Rights about disparities in county schools.

In recent years, the gap between black students and their peers has closed incrementally. In 2004, for example, there was a 22 percentage-point difference between black students and students as a whole on state math tests for grades three to eight. Last year the difference was 18 points.

During the same time, the difference in state reading test scores for those same grades had changed from 21 percentage points to 15 percentage points.

The achievement gap narrowed more significantly in elementary schools than in middle schools. Last year, for example, in third grade the difference in math scores was 11 percentage points. In eighth grade, the difference in math scores was 23 percentage points.

"We're seeing incremental -- some say still too small -- but incremental closing of the achievement gap," said Carlesa Finney, the school system's director of equity assurance and human relations. "The most alarming thing is still the number of African American students having disciplinary problems."

While black students are 22 percent of the student population, they made up 63 percent of the students put on extended suspension and 48 percent of those expelled last year. In recent years, county officials have launched several programs to help minority students, including the opening of Finney's office to organize the overall effort.

The school system recently implemented a positive behavior program at several schools, Finney said. "The emphasis is on intervention and positive reinforcement rather than sanctions," she said.

County schools presented their findings and new statistics at five forums across the county last week attended by about 130 parents.

"There was a mixed reaction," Finney said. "There were some people suspicious of the data, but most were very thankful to be able to see where the gap is and that there is hope for closing the gap."

The new information in Anne Arundel came just after the release of a new statewide task force report that paints a grim picture of how African American male students are faring in Maryland's public schools and universities.

The report by the Task Force on the Education of Maryland's African-American Males said that of the 32,000 African American boys in the 10th through 12th grades eligible to take an Advanced Placement exam in 2005, only 1,229 did so. The report also notes that in 2004-05, six of every 10 suspensions involved a black student.

The 49-member panel offered 18 recommendations, including taking steps to reduce the number of African American boys in special education programs, creating mentorship and health programs for children and offering more academic support. It also suggested strengthening mentor programs, encouraging more black men to be teachers and providing more academic support for those who need it.

The task force concluded that 10 years after a similar group led by then-Del. Elijah E. Cummings (D) studied the issue and offered recommendations for change, little progress has been made.

"We acknowledge that at every level, there's been a fundamental failure on behalf of our African-American male students and a persistent bias against them. These recommendations are intended to rectify both," the report said.

Staff writer Lori Aratani contributed to this report.