MASA eLeader

Michigan ranks in the bottom five states in the nation in terms of achievement among economically disadvantaged and students of color— a factor that could hurt the state's chances of winning in the federal Race to the Top competition, according to a national report released January 14.

The analysis by the Washington, D.C.-based Education Trust trailed a University of Michigan Study released January 13 that found African-American males in Michigan have the lowest high school graduation rate in the country— 33 percent, compared to 74 percent for white males in the state.

It's another blot on the state that came under national scrutiny in December when Detroit fourth- and eighth-graders scored lowest in the nation on the National Assessment of Education Progress. The results were the worst in the 40-year history of the prestigious exam.

In the report, “Gauging the Gaps: A Deeper Look at Student Achievement,” The Education Trust uses NAEP data from every state to illustrate the pitfalls in one-dimensional appraisals of gaps. The report then suggests ways to gain a more comprehensive, accurate picture of equity.

For a true understanding of the gaps in student achievement, regardless of the measure being used, educators and policymakers must examine data from at least four different perspectives:

Simple Gap Narrowing: Have gaps in performance between student groups decreased over time?
Progress for All: Have all groups of students gained over time?
Gap Size: What is the magnitude of the gap between groups?
Group Comparison Across Jurisdictions: How does each group of students currently perform relative to their counterparts in other schools, districts, or states?

Read the Education Trust report …