MARIN COUNTY – ELIMINATING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP

MARIN COUNTY – ELIMINATING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP – Resources and Information!

All students deserve and have the right to the best possible education. It is the responsibility of our schools and our entire community to make sure that this opportunity exists for all children, whatever their social, academic, or economic background. The reality is that an achievement gap exists in the schools of our community and state. The information and resources below provide more information about the achievement gap and about some of the answers to eliminating the gap, especially for students of color, English Learners and students with disabilities.

Professional Learning Communities

Go to Professional Learning Communities – Go to http://whateverittakes.marinschools.org/ to learn about Professional Learning Communities and the focus on school wide collaboration to help us reach a point where each and every student enrolled in any school in our community becomes OUR student.

Achieving Success for All Students: A Statewide Initiative on Closing the Achievement Gap

This resource-rich website has been developed to support the work of educators and policymakers. It contains research, information, success stories and helpful information on efforts to close the achievement gap in California.

http://www.closingtheachievementgap.org/cs/ctag/print/htdocs/home.htm

What Are Your Expectations? The Challenge of Keeping Classrooms Fair

This article, published in the February 2008 issue of Scholastic Administrator Magazine, discusses the challenges in maintaining bias-free classrooms and strategies to be considered by teachers and school administrators. Link to Article

Yes We Can – Telling Truths and Dispelling Myths About Race and Education in America

In this 2006 Report, the Education Trust provides compelling data about the “opportunity gap” that exists in schools for children of color. The report also provides examples of schools and districts that are using data, high standards and effective assessment to improve student outcomes.

http://www.closingtheachievementgap.org/cs/ctag/download/resources/12/Wilkins.pdf?x-r=pcfile_d

Bridging Cultures in Our Schools: New Approaches That Work

This brief provides a framework for understanding how teachers' culturally driven — and often unconsciously held — values influence classroom practice and expectations, and, when in conflict with the values of immigrant and other parents from more collectivistic societies, can interfere with parent-teacher communication. The brief looks at some specific sources of cross-culture conflicts and illustrates some strategies for resolving them. http://www.wested.org/online_pubs/lcd-99-01.pdf

Who Is Ahead and Who Is Behind? Gaps in School Readiness and Student Achievement in the Early Grades for California’s Children

This RAND Corporation report, part of the California Preschool Study, makes the strong case for the importance of quality preschool education as a key component in a strategy for closing the achievement gap. http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR537/

Interview with David Kirp, Author of The Sandbox Investment – The Preschool Movement and Kids-First Politics

On January 23, 2008, David Kirp was in Marin County to speak to Mayors, Councilmembers, School District Superintendents and Trustees about his book, The Sandbox Investment. Mr. Kirp discussed his research which indicates that high quality preschool experiences are a leading factor contributing the academic, social and emotional well-being of children. The link below takes you to a National Public radio audio-interview with Mr. Kirp discussing his book.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14829446

R&D Alert^® Vol. 7, No. 3 Focus on Early Childhood Education

While the importance of early childhood education has long been recognized, traditional ideas of "school readiness" may be outdated. The first years of life do not simply set the stage for school — they are uniquely important in their own right. This report focuses on Early Childhood Education establishing a foundation for lifelong learning and for bridging cultures in early childhood. http://www.wested.org/online_pubs/rd-05-03.pdf

What We Must Do to Create a System That Prepares Students for College Success

An ever-increasing proportion of high school students in the United States aspire to graduate from college. However, far too many of these students are struggling once they enter college. This Policy Perspectives paper helps secondary and postsecondary educators create a more aligned education system that prepares students for college success. Topics include what policymakers, high school educators, postsecondary faculty and administrators, students, and parents can do to bring about a better-aligned educational system that leads to enhanced student success. http://www.wested.org/online_pubs/pp-06-01.pdf

Marin County Early Childhood Education Partnership

This link will take you to information and resources regarding early childhood education programs and providers in Marin County. http://mcoeweb.marin.k12.ca.us/earlyed/ece.htm

Marin County School to Career Partnership

The Marin County School to Career Partnership (STC) provides career exploration and education opportunities for students. Serving as a bridge between Marin’s business and organizations and the schools, STC provides real-world experiences for students inspiring them to be better prepared for college, careers and life. http://stc.marinschools.org/

California Department of Education Achievement Gap Summit Presentation

Hosted by Jack O’Connell, Superintendent of Public Instruction

November 13 & 14, 2007

Sacramento

29 Achievement Gap Summit presentations are provided including The Student Perspective, Achievement Gap or Accessibility Gap, Courageous Conversation: An Essential Strategy for Eliminating Racial Achievement Disparity in California, The Great Debate: Internal vs. External Factors in Closing the Achievement Gap, and Teaching as the Opportunity: When Teachers Thrive, Students Achieve.

* The videos below require Apple QuickTime Player. Click HERE to get it.

01. A Civil Rights Perspective on Standards-Based Accountability Regimes (Chris Edley)

02. A Student Perspective (Nicolina Hernández/Mary Rascon-Corral)

03. Achievement Gap or Accessibility Gap? (Sal Castro)

04. Assessment and Accommodations for English Learners (Jamal Abedi)

05. Breaking the Silence: Ushering in Courageous Conversation About the Impact of Race on Student Achievement (Manny Barbara, Christine Lim, Glenn Eric Singleton)

06. Closing the Achievement Gap by Addressing the Opportunity Gap in California (Linda Darling-Hammond)

07. Closing the Achievement Gap with High Quality Instruction (Ronald Ferguson)

08. Closing the Expectations Gap: Lessons from the American Diploma Project Network (Michael Cohen)

09. Closing the Systemic Gap Between the Highest and Lowest Performing Students (Douglas Reeves)

10. Courageous Conversation: An Essential Strategy for Eliminating Racial Achievement Disparity in California (Glenn Eric Singleton)

11. Developing Academic Discourse Skills with Adolescent English Learners Through Mediated Discussion and Writing (Kate Kinsella)