This scholar is one of a number of scholars at Harvard and other leading universities whose research focuses on the nation's achievement gaps. These scholars represent a cross section of academic
disciplines--Education, Economics, Public and Social Policy, Sociology
and Law. They represent the broad base of research and knowledge necessary
to understanding the complex issues contributing to Achievement Gaps.
RonaldFerguson, AGI Director and Faculty Co-Chair, Senior Lecturer in Education and Public Policy at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the Harvard Kennedy School
Ferguson discusses findings that self esteem is higher among young black males and females. The same is not true for non-blacks. His results highlight the influence of hip hop culture on identity formation and expression for black youth.
tags:
NAEP, test score gaps, reading, parent's education
Huge Progress Stalled: Racial Gaps at 12th Grade are Smaller than in the 1970s, but Remain Large
Ronald Ferguson
Conference
June 2006
Ferguson presents NAEP and SAT test score data that shows achievement gaps narrowing dramatically in the 1970s and 1980s and then stalling in 1988. He speculates that changes in youth culture may be a contributing factor.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Home Intellectual Lifestyles
Ronald Ferguson
Conference
June 2006
Ferguson shows that achievement gaps are often largest between children of highly educated parents of different racial and ethnic groups. He presents evidence that there are important differences at home (beyond SES) that contribute to gaps.
tags:
socioeconomic status, acting white, popularity, behavior, self-esteem, GPA, homework, hip hop, rock music, youth
Racial and SES Differences in School Behavior, Engagement and Time on Homework
Ronald Ferguson
Conference
June 2006
Ferguson presents data on student behavior and self-esteem from his Tripod student surveys. He finds a strong links between hip-hop music, identity, and self-esteem among black students. He also finds differences between white and black students' behavior and maternal education levels.
Class-to-Class Instructional Quality Differences and How They Matter
Ronald Ferguson
Conference
June 2006
Ferguson shares research findings on student engagement and instructional quality from three-dozen secondary schools across eight states. Ferguson's Instructional Quality Index (IQI) uses student survey responses concerning teaching practices.
How Instruction and Peer Culture Affect Student Engagement in Several Domains: Evidence from the Tripod Project
Ron Ferguson
Conference
June 2007
Ferguson describes a student engagement framework based on the Tripod survey data. It includes five student engagement targets, five classroom conditions for achieving the targets, and five organizational conditions for achieving and sustaining the classroom conditions.
Yes We Can! A Panel on Closing the Achievement Gaps
Jane Waldfogel, Richard Nisbett, Ron Ferguson
Forum
March 2009
Waldfogel examines the steady gains (1971-1988), stalled progress (1988-1999), and renewed progress (2000-2004) in closing achievement gaps. She links these trends to parental education, school segregation, and teacher quality patterns. Nisbett presents evidence that challenges the conclusions presented in the 1994 book "the Bell Curve". Ferguson summarizes key points from his book "Excellence with Equity".
Race, Identity & Achievement: What Role for Elites?
Ronald Ferguson, Cedric Jones, Joshua Garriga
Forum
March 2008
Ferguson, former corporate executive Jones, and student leader Garriga discuss how economic, academic, and social "elites" can help young people to cope with race and identity related pressures that interfere with academic achievement.
Seven Strategic Propositions from the June 2008 AGI Conference
Ronald Ferguson
Conference
June 2009
Ferguson outlines seven strategic propositions for closing achievement gaps distilled from research and practice presentations at the 2008 AGI conference on district-wide education reform.
Profiles of Progress and Performance at the Conference's Featured High Schools
Ronald Ferguson
Conference
June 2009
Ferguson describes the characteristics of the fifteen exemplary high schools presented at the 2009 AGI conference. He shares their impressive gains in English Language Arts and Math.
High School Success Stories: How Did Some Exemplary High Schools in Greater Boston Raise Achievement and Narrow Test-Score Gaps?
Ronald Ferguson, Mary Skipper, Sharon Wolder
Forum
September 2010
Ferguson presents key findings from the 2009 AGI report “How High Schools Become Exemplary”. Two leaders at featured schools, Skipper, TechBoston Academy and Wolder, Brockton High School shared their perspectives.
Envisioning a System: A Pathways to Prosperity Forum
Ronald Ferguson, Keith Westrich, Susan Lange, Christyanna Egun and Melissa Scibelli.
Forum
May 2011
Massachusetts efforts to engage employers and promote opportunities for multiple education pathways and work-based learning. A panel moderated by Ronald Ferguson featuring: Keith Westrich, Susan Lange, Christyanna Egun and Melissa Scibelli.
Based on the paper: An Empirically Derived Parenting Typology; Presentation delivered by Ron Ferguson for Jelani Mandara
Ronald Ferguson, The Achievement Gap Initiative
Conference
June 2011
Ron Ferguson presents the work of psychologist, Jelani Mendara, who wanted to find the best “black way” of parenting. He found, despite his predictions, that the same parenting strategies were best practices for black children as for white children, concluding that the traditional conception of authoritative parenting may be optimal for all American ethnic groups, even if it is not culturally normative for some.
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