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The Facts on the Gap

The nation's demographics are rapidly changing. Internationally, the United States already ranks below several nations it competes with in the global economy. Compared to whites, significant gaps for African-American and Hispanic students are evident in virtually every measure of achievement: NAEP math and reading test scores, high school completion rates, college enrollment and college completion rates. In addition, there is wide variability across states in educational investment and outcomes. There are virtually no racial or social class differences in mental ability among infants before their first birthday and a few social class indicators are able to explain the small differences that do exist.

 

 
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The Facts on the Gap

 

Place your mouse on the pie chart
to see the population shift forecasted for 2050.

 

Population

 

Scores at Age 9 Months

State Test Scores

National Test Scores

International Test Scores

High School Completion Rates

College Enrollment

College Completion

Employment and Earnings

Population



Video Presentations

Title Presenter(s) Date Realplayer format PowerPoint
Black Americans Reduce the IQ Gap: Evidence from Standardization Samples William Dickens June 2006 Click for video Click for powerpoint
Huge Progress Stalled: Racial Gaps at 12th Grade are Smaller than in the 1970s, but Remain Large Ronald Ferguson June 2006 Click for video Click for powerpoint
School Quality and the Black-White Achievement Gap Steven Rivkin June 2006 Click for video Click for powerpoint
Test Score Gaps Roland Fryer June 2006 Click for video Click for powerpoint
Testing for Racial Differences in the Mental Ability of Young Children Roland Fryer June 2006 Click for video Click for powerpoint
The Academic Achievement Gap in Grades 3 to 8 (in North Carolina) Charles Clotfelter June 2006 Click for video Click for powerpoint
The Black-White Test Score Differential Kevin Lang June 2007 Click for video Click for powerpoint
Understanding Trends in Racial/Ethnic Achievement Gaps During The First Years of School Richard Murnane June 2006 Click for video Click for powerpoint
Yes We Can! A Panel on Closing the Achievement Gaps Jane Waldfogel, Richard Nisbett, Ron Ferguson March 2009 Click for video Click for powerpoint

Papers

Title Abstract Author(s) Date  
Beating the Odds VI
Michael Casserly, Amanda Petteruti, Adriane Williams March 2006 Click for the paper
Efforts to Narrow the Minority Student Achievement Gap: A Longitudinal Case Study of One School District
Sarah M. Kern May 2006 Click for the paper
Testing for Racial Differences in the Mental Ability of Young Children
Roland G. Fryer, Steven D. Levitt March 2006 Click for the paper
The Black-White-Other test score gap: academic achievement among mixed race adolescents
Melissa R. Herman February 2005 Click for the paper
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