Tuesday, August 26, 2008

The achievement gap isn't caused by differences in funding

The 2007 Prairie State Achievement Exam test results (reading, science and math combined, for 11th graders in Chicago Public Schools, which spends $10,400 per student, show that 22% of black students meet or exceed standards while 63% of white students meet or exceed standards. Same schools, same funding levels and a large achievement gap. In Evanston District High HSD 202, where funding exceeds $17,000 per student, the same PSAE test show that 31% of black students meet or exceed standards while 89% of white students meet or exceed standards. District 211 in the Northwest suburbs, with funding around $13,500 per student, the PSAE shows that 27% of black students meet or exceed Standards while 74% of white students meet or exceed standards. This data strongly suggest that increased funding for Chicago Public Schools will not affect the black-white education achievement gap.

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