Wide White-Hispanic Education Achievement Gap Persists, Report Says

By Molly O'Toole

WASHINGTON -- The Hispanic-white educational achievement gap has remained wide over the past two decades, according to a new report by the Department of Education's statistical center that a Department statement calls "sobering."

The report released on Thursday by the National Center for Educational Statistics showed that since the 1990s, scores in math and reading for Hispanic students have increased but the gap between Hispanic and white students on the National Assessment of Educational Progress has persisted.

"Race and ethnicity shouldn't be factors in the success of any child in America," said U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan in a statement. "(Hispanic students) face grave educational challenges that are hindering their ability to pursue the American dream."

The NCES compared data on the achievement gap between Hispanic and white public school students in grades 4 and 8 at the national and state levels over the past two decades to 2009, the most recent assessment year.

The national average of achievement gaps between Hispanic and white students at grades 4 and 8 in mathematics and reading is roughly 20 points on the 500-point NAEP scale, according to the report.

Hispanics are the fastest-growing population in the United States, and Hispanic students are now the largest minority group in U.S. schools. From 1990 to 2009, the national Hispanic student population increased from 6 percent to 22 percent at grade 4, and from 7 percent to 21 percent at grade 8, according to the report.

Pew Hispanic Center Associate Director Mark Lopez said that by their projections, Hispanics will comprise 30 percent of the nation's population by 2050. According to Lopez, one of every five of those at school-going age is Latino.

"The number one issue Latinos are concerned about is education -- above jobs, health care, and immigration," said Lopez, noting a Pew survey from fall 2010.

SMALLER GAPS

Five states and districts had smaller-than-average achievement gaps in both subjects and grades: Department of Defense Education Activity schools, Florida, Kentucky, Missouri and Wyoming.

Two states -- Connecticut and California -- had a gap larger than the nation for both grades in math, and for grade 4 reading.

Delia Pompa, senior vice president for programs for the National Council for La Raza, said that such factors as poverty, low expectations and language hit Hispanic students hard and contribute to the persistence of the achievement gap. The NCLR is the largest Latino advocacy organization in the country.

"We don't have a choice as a nation," said Pompa. "As this population is larger and then also becomes a larger part of the workforce, it's important for everybody that these children be educated well and be prepared to be productive workers and citizens."

The report included just short of all 50 states at each grade and subject. Some states, like West Virginia, did not have enough Hispanic students for a reliable sample.

In other states, the Hispanic public school student population has surpassed that of whites. In California, the District of Columbia, New Mexico, Texas and Arizona, Hispanic public school students outnumber white public school students for one or both of the surveyed grades.

The report also compared data for specific groups such as those eligible for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).

Over 70 percent of Hispanic students at grades 4 and 8 are eligible for the NSLP as compared to less than 30 percent of white students.

The gap between Hispanic and white students eligible for the NSLP has also grown smaller since 2003, but the gap between Hispanic students eligible and not eligible for NSLP is smaller than that between the same groups of white students.

"Low Hispanic education attainment levels aren't just a problem for the Latino community," said Juan Sepulveda, director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. "Every American has a stake in this."

(Reporting by Molly O'Toole; Editing by Jerry Norton)

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters. Click for Restrictions.

Comments

[Protocolor]

04:29 PM on 06/28/2011

""The number one issue Latinos are concerned about is education -- above jobs, health care, and immigration," said Lopez."

I think he might be wrong about that.

[pdevlin]

09:20 AM on 06/28/2011

Years ago, my best mate's grandparents immigrated from Italy and brought their 14 year daughter over with them. She was put in a fourth grade class (no bilingual ed back then). In one year, she was fluent in written and spoken English and was winning academic prizes. Now, if an Italian speaker can learn English, so can a Spanish speaker - as the languages aren't that dissimilar. By the way, they were working class people and there certainly was prejudice against them, but they valued education and wanted to become American.

[Toolslinger]

07:42 PM on 06/27/2011

The language barrier is certainly part of the problem. The Latino attitude is a larger part. The most annoying part is that while the teachers try to teach to the Latino's, the citizen students are being slowed down to the point of high school graduates with grade school understanding.

They are bankrupting our country. http://www.examiner.com/immigration-reform-in-national/the-children-of-illegal-aliens-anchor-babies-have-bankrupted-the-state-of-california

We can't afford them.

[graffitijoe]

11:27 PM on 06/26/2011

If they learn English they will do just fine. If their parents are sitting around at night eating churros y chocalat'e and watching TeleNovelas on UniVision they will not learn enough English and they will lag farther and farther behind until they either drop out or graduate semi-literate.

It's up to the parents to create a backdrop that enhances their childrens learning experience at school - or not.

[Elecktra001]

03:51 PM on 06/25/2011

The gang mentality and lack of appreciation for learning dominates this culture.

[lilliefaerie]

01:17 PM on 06/25/2011

Another great place in learning is the city itslef. For a week we drove by and the lot between the football stadium and an elementary school had lines, yellow and huge white strips. This week we found out why. The police were out there directing traffic. Several kids were in motorized kid cars and the others were on bicycles and trikes. It was sooooo cute. The huge white lines represented the sidewalk and the other represented the street. All wore helmits which is required by the city for all young children.

[lilliefaerie]

01:12 PM on 06/25/2011

I fail to see that here (except with perhaps the migrant population because they change schools and may not have traveling teachers and continuity might be an issue). We have early learning daycare for all-note that-all and the most helped are those with low incomes-that's a United Way contribution done on a sliding scale. We have Head Start. We have private schools and home schooling. We have a public school system that rocks and the teachers are fantastic. The teachers are connected to parents and students by the internet. There is homework help in person and every one of the twin's teachers says call me if there's a problem-this is my home number...They have had teachers who care. Race is not the issue here. At the year end awards ceremonies it seemed every child got multiple achievement awards. Every child. In other words they met their expectations. The schools test well here. Through 7 years of public schooling for the twins and 12 years for my grandson, there has not been one bad teacher. The kids come home excited, positive, and glad to be students. One big reason is that parents, grandparents get involved by asking the right questions to their kids and the teachers get involved with the kids and the kids thrive here. The ones who do not let the communication balls drop.

[FiredUpRTG]

11:37 AM on 06/24/2011

Parents are too dependent on the schools. The parents see decently-paid teachers, breakfast and lunch, clean classrooms, labs, computers, books and they don't think they need to be more involved than getting the kid to school on time.

Parents need to no that what the child learns during the day needs to be reinforced and supported at home.

Don't put the kids in school just to get a child-free break during the day or because it's illegal not to go to school.

[Badgolfer1974]

12:13 PM on 06/25/2011

Agreed. The mentality that schools will take of the "educating" is wrong on many levels. Why would any parent want to leave something so important as a child's development to someone (or something) else? Even if it is school. There are too many "unknowns" - what kind of teacher the child will get, the school and class atmosphere, the amount of resources, the administration, etc. But I guess that's my mentality because I had a good education and family. This is why the cycle of poverty is a big part of education reform.

[Mark Chellis]

10:46 AM on 06/24/2011

The entire responsibility for education rests with parents, even if they choose to delegate the task of education to a school system, whether it be public or private. If children are failing it is the fault of parents. More money solves nothing. Homeschool students consistently outscore other students even though far less money is spent on them. Why? Because their parents are deeply involved.

[brooksjohnson9]

07:20 PM on 06/24/2011

Thank you FnF homeschool parent here

[Ghoulish]

10:45 AM on 06/25/2011

My homeschooled children always score in the 99th percentile or higher in all tested subjects. We do absolutely no test preparation. Our philosophy is to simply introduce them to as many ideas as possible and to read, read, read (not twaddle though!).

[chadizzy]

10:44 AM on 06/24/2011

The majority of them start school without knowing any english its a no wonder they are a little lower than the other kids.

[Assumed Name]

02:34 PM on 06/24/2011

"English" begins with uppercase "e" and "it's" is a contraction. (Maybe you shouldn't complain about others' language skills.)

[chadizzy]

02:39 PM on 06/24/2011

Why not? I am writing a comment not an essay. No need to be super grammatical. Its a comment board not an essay board. I am speaking from exp. My nephew is in kindergarten and he has 6 kids out of 19 in his class that can speak english. They hold everyone else back in his class. Also I am in IT and have been out of school for 14 years. I dont need to write proper grammar as it has nothing to do with what I do. I did pass my english classes thank you. Comments boards are just that. Places for people to say what they want how they want when they want. So what I dont do proper grammar on a comment board.

[MrBwood]

10:14 AM on 06/24/2011

As a Southern Californian who is married to an English teacher. I can say that without a doubt the problem is, and it's getting worse is. Most ( not all ) Hispanic kids are not raised to be learners, their parents don't care if they better themselves through education. So therefore neither do they. My wife had a child (middle school) from China in a sea of Mexican students who were misbehaving, and not putting forth any effort. With NO parental involvement. the Mexican kids for the most barely pass. While the Chinese girl, who had been in the country for about a year. Went from being very low in class to straight A's in all classes, Electronic translater in hand, she became a voracious reader and a wonderful student, IN NINE MONTHS. This is the difference between cultures. Sorry but until the mindset of Hispanic (mostly Mexican) parents, and their so called "leaders" change. This gap in learning will never get better.

[moonlightesq]

11:14 AM on 06/24/2011

I agree with you, parents' involvement and culture plays a big role in how a well their children do in school, not necessarily more funding. The school district where I live is comprised of about 50% Asian and 48% white, equally affluent, but for at least the past four year the Asian students have consistently outscored their white counterparts in API scores.

[selander]

03:09 PM on 06/25/2011

I am also a teacher with many Asian and Hispanic students. It is true that the majority of my ELL Asian students use translators during class, while my ELL Hispanic students tend to be a bit clueless and do not bother to ask for clarification. I wonder why this is so. Is is parental support? Lack of funds for electronic translators? Cultural?

[MrBwood]

01:04 AM on 06/27/2011

I am pretty sure that if the hispanic kids parents made it a priority , they would find the money to purchase electronic translators. I am pretty sure the kids all have cell phones, and the parents will find the dough for a quinceanera party. It just isn't important to the parents and the kids suffer. Of course there are exceptions.

[Protocolor]

04:38 PM on 06/28/2011

Academic success is extremely important in many Asian cultures. It doesn't even make the top twenty in most Hispanic cultures, though.

[Eno]

10:02 AM on 06/24/2011

Incredible the amounts of racist ignorance posted in some of the comments to this article, probably posted from behind glass homes or white picket fences.

The survey itself says that the number one concern among Hispanics is Education – above jobs, health care and immigration. The problem is the education system itself. America has continued to invest less and less in it schools and their students and more and more on tax cuts for the wealthy and wars that they profiteer from. The Teachers Unions while great for teachers makes it difficult to fire ineffective teachers (summed up clearly by poster “SoCalifTeacher” was writes: “Mijo… No.. School too hard.. its OK… go play”). The list could go on for days of what is wrong with America’s Education system.

[Badgolfer1974]

11:56 AM on 06/25/2011

While I agree there are MANY things wrong with public education, I can't say that the education system is the main reason for the achievement gap. For one thing, most Asian immigrants come into the country with a language barrier too and are not well off (I used to teach in a school district like that in NYC). They perform well within the public school system - how would you account for that?

I think culture and family background has much to do with this. Empirical studies consistently back that up; the big one being the 1965 Coleman report (that was validated by Jencks years later) that found that school-based factors like classroom size, school funding, resources, etc. did not have a significant role in student outcomes; rather student background did. I rail against the bureaucratic public ed system too, but let's be honest, young students who have good habits of mind are developed at home, and generally will succeed despite deficiencies of the school.

[Eno]

01:42 PM on 06/29/2011

I don't believe that in 1965 the ratio of students to every one teacher are as high as they are now. When I went to school in the 90s there was on average 30-35. In some classes we shared desks and outdated text books. I believe, from my experience a teacher who lacks time & resources cannot effectively root out who needs help with a class of size of probably almost 40 students now a days, its easier for a student to get lost in a class that size. At least that was the case in my school. I’d like to see the results if that same study was done in inner city schools today.

I do agree and believe culture has to do with the achievement gap. My cousin came here not knowing a lick of English in his teens but was always at the top of his class because what he was learning in high school here he had already learned early in South America . After he finished High School he joined the Navy and served his time. After the Navy he got married, had two kids, worked multiple jobs and went to school full time. He is an example of how immigrants can come to this country and use the system to his benefit. Immigrants seem to take the advantage of the American education system better than American born students.

[Dr Scott]

09:31 AM on 06/24/2011

There is not enough room in a single post to go into all the reasons Hispanic kids are struggling, but I'll admit that some of it is cultural. I've noticed, anecdotally, that immigrant families place a much higher value on education than native families do.
I'm Hispanic, and I personally saw education as a way out of my town and family. I have a PhD now, but I actually had to endure my family's derisive comments about how I was wasting my life going to college, as if I was doing it to spite them. Even today, this is a common sentiment among Hispanic parents. Many H/S kids would love to go to college, but their parents are completely unsupportive. I won a full scholarship for college, so my parents didn't get a say in my education, but not everybody can do that. I don't have a solution. Its just really sad.

[grn1]

09:50 AM on 06/24/2011

this is not just a plight of Hispanics but of every immigration wave in this country.

[MrBwood]

10:18 AM on 06/24/2011

I disagree, Other immigrant cultures DO succeed in education. There are cultural mindsets that hold people back, like it or not

[Protocolor]

04:41 PM on 06/28/2011

Asian and European immigrants tend to lift themselves out of poverty within a generation. This is not true of Hispanic immigrants.

[justanothergirl]

10:05 AM on 06/24/2011

Thats awesome that you got a PhD...it takes a lot of dedication to do that, especially when your family isn't too sure about it. The widening gap in education between racial groups is such a critical problem, and I believe it promotes racism.

[KBRICK2020]

12:25 PM on 06/24/2011

it does not promote racism.....it promotes the reality that if you choose to not take any interest in first learning english and second doing your school work then you are statistically destined be a low wage earner REGARDLESS OF COLOR. Let me pose this question, is it racist if a child from Germany comes to this country at age 2 and refuses to learn english, his parents refuse to learn english, his parents refuse to encourage and support his education, and he fails in school and becomes a financial drag on society?

[freegeg]

09:23 AM on 06/24/2011

In California only 68% (getting lower every year) of students graduate from high school. 59% of Latinos don't graduate. With 11.7 percent unemployment and an exploding deficit what is the plan for solvency? Where will the Latinos work? There are no manufacturing jobs left.

[grn1]

09:52 AM on 06/24/2011

manufacturing jobs? most coming across work as personal servants to the upper class.

[SF TKF]

10:29 AM on 06/24/2011

But we're talking about their kids and grandkids. Because so many Hispanic families do not support education, they're becoming a permanent underclass. We have kids who were born here, went to school here, graduated high school, and don’t speak English. Where is that kid going to work? One such student, the valedictorian of his high school, tried to sue the UC system because he was denied admission.

[SoCalifTeacher]

09:17 AM on 06/24/2011

"Mijo...no...school too hard...its OK...go play"