I knew that I would enroll in this course solely based on the course title. I was aware of the achievement gap between White and Black students in mathematics. As a Black person with a mathematics degree, the achievement gap always intrigued and puzzled me. I could not understand how this trend in mathematics scores could be that broad-based in nature for so many years, so I expected to learn more about the causes of the achievement gap in the course. However, one of the most profound, yet simple, things I learned in the course was that the achievement gap does not only exist between blacks and whites and not only in mathematics. The achievement gap exists in reading and language arts subjects also. It exists between males and females, Hispanics and whites, and poor and affluent schools and districts, among other subgroups. The achievement gap issue had so many interesting areas and it is so widespread that it appeared to have no solution. However, the course also taught me that it is possible to close the achievement gap, and the course readings and activities illustrated that point with case studies and stories of various schools throughout the United States that were succeeding at reducing and closing the gap. There are many different factors that may drive the achievement gap, and isolating and studying any one or a few of these factors still will not provide a complete picture of the variables associated with achievement (or lack of). The achievement gap is a complex problem, and simple solutions to complex problems will not work. Further, it could take decades for ideas to make their way from basic research to successful large-scale implementation. However, I believe that incremental change can be made, and progress is best made by building carefully on a well-established base. At the same time, my responsibility as a researcher is to continue to work to bring good ideas into the world of practice. It is up to me to determine how I can contribute the most to the existing research and educational practices. As a researcher, I can approach the achievement gap issue in a number of ways and from a variety of perspectives. In my view, individual schools are the unit of change in reducing or closing the achievement gap. Therefore, I plan to focus my research efforts on the school-related factors that impact achievement, such as curriculum, assessments, and access to educational resources. |