Many experts say the academic achievement gap is the single most persistent and pressing issue facing public schools today. Now
San Diego State
professors are exploring ways they can train future teachers to help close the gap. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis has more.
Black and Latino students continue to lag behind their white and Asian peers by almost every academic measure including graduation rates, test scores, college readiness.
Even so, there's no college course that instructs student teachers on how to overcome the achievement gap once they step into their own classrooms.
That's likely to change at SDSU.
Hovda:
The messages are becoming clearer and clearer.
That's Ric Hovda, dean of
SDSU's College of Education.
He recently organized an achievement gap summit to share the growing body of research on what works.
Hovda wants to beef up teacher training programs by tapping into success stories from schools that are defying the odds.
Hovda:
As warm and fuzzy as that sounds, its reality. Schools that are being effective in closing the achievement gap, tell us over and over again, you have to have a place where the kids feel safe, you have to have a place where there are high expectations. And when I look at you, I say, ‘That’s not good enough! You can do better! I believe in you. I care about you. And I’m not leaving until you learn how to do that.’
Hovda wants educators from San Diego County schools to help the university rethink what should be taught.
Mandy Benigno, who is working to get her teaching credential, was at the summit soaking up some ideas. She wants her training to include how to connect with students in culturally relevant ways.
Benigno:
Just being aware of everyone's culture. Because that's how we’re really going to relate to the students. Knowing their background and where they come from, they're going to feel like teachers care about them.
Former San Diego Superintendent Carl Cohn
has been serving as San Diego State's distinguished leader in residence.
He says SDSU's efforts are a step in the right direction. He believes too many colleges today don't empower aspiring teachers to overcome education inequalities. Instead, he says, a host of non-profit groups are doing the job.
Cohn:
Teach For America
is preparing teachers.
New Leaders For New Schools
is preparing principals. Traditional colleges of education have to recognize the reality that if we can't do this successfully, there are others who are going to get in the business and do it.
Recent data shows the achievement gap remains to be a problem in San Diego County. However, it has narrowed significantly in math. Public school educators say that's because they've spent the last five years trying different ways to solve the problem. SDSU officials say they're committed to draw on their experiences and included it in their teacher training programs.
Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.
