Achievement gap issues still on education agenda

Last January, the House Education Committee heard reports and recommendations from five work groups charged with outlining specific strategies to address the educational struggles facing many minority student groups. The work groups looked at specific issues within African American, Asian American, Pacific Islander American, Native American and Hispanic American communities.

As a result of their work, the Legislature passed SB 5973, which among other activities, created the Achievement Gap Accountability and Oversight Committee.

Now, some of the strategies outlined by those work groups may become law. The AGAOC has submitted eight recommendations for the Legislature to consider in the 2010 session.

Among their recommendations?

• An accountability system which ranks schools based on student achievement, with particular focus on the elimination of racial/ethnic achievement gaps
• Authority for the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to ensure school districts comply with state and federal civil rights laws.
• Implementation of research-based statewide initiatives that would better identify and support disadvantaged students, and boost efforts to help them prepare for college.

A lot of folks have spent a tremendous amount of time working on this issue. We'll keep watching what what happens as the session continues.