“Closing the Achievement Gap,” a report released last week by the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, recommends that legislatures and school districts take the following actions:
- Make improving student literacy a top priority by expanding access to high-quality preschool;
- Invest in teacher professional development, expand access to Advanced Placement courses, and put well-qualified teachers in high-poverty and high-minority schools;
- Redesignate low-performing schools as high-priority schools by committing the work, time, and federal and state funding needed to change those schools;
- Involve parents, school staff members, and the community in reforms;
- Continue and expand bilingual education programs;
- Use proven reforms in resource allocation, collaboration, leadership, and fiscal development; and
- Define the characteristics of low-performing schools, and develop an improvement plan.
SOURCE: National Black Caucus of State Legislators
