Expect The Racial/Income Academic Achievement Gap To Widen With The New State Tests.

Last week the State and City admitted that they expect a 30% reduction in the  students passing rate of the new and harder "Common Core" tests.   In fact, Chancellor Dennis Walcott expects that up to 80% of the students in some districts who take the test will not be considered "proficient" . While all expect the scores to plummet, the most affected will be those "high poverty students" .

However, education officials have decided not to publicize the expected widening of the student academic achievement gap based upon income and race.  While all students will see scores plummet, look for the greatest drops to occur in schools that have a population that comes from high poverty areas.  Unfortunately, these high poverty areas have a large population of Black and Hispanic students and education officials expect that these students will experience the greatest drops in test scores.

These "high poverty students" suffer from common social problems, a lack of household resources (books, computers, a private room to study in, and in many cases a safe environment) and in many cases come from a single family household which means money is scarce and discipline may be lacking. Too many times the only food the children get is the free breakfast and lunch programs at school.  Regardless, the lack of effective academic intervention programs for these "high poverty students" will manifest itself into low test scores and result in a widening income/racial student academic achievement gap.

What a fitting way for the Bloomberg Administration to end their tenure, with low test scores and a widening income/racial student academic achievement gap.   The education Mayor?  What a joke.