Districts in St. Louis pushing to close gap in achievement

ST. LOUIS -- Black leaders in St. Louis say they're encouraged by efforts to close the so-called achievement gap between black students and their white classmates in the region.

Scores released last week show that the average ACT score for Missouri's black students was 17.5, compared to an average of 21.9 for white students. A score of 17 on the ACT suggests that a student is marginally ready for college-level work.

The national "No Child Left Behind" education reform act, which goes into effect this school year, makes the achievement gap impossible to ignore. Although school districts are still figuring out the logistics of the 1,200-page law, one theme is clear -- students must improve on annual state tests to show that they are progressing and proficient at their grade levels.

The goal is for all public schoolchildren to be proficient in at least reading and math by 2014.

States, school districts and individual schools will be required to examine achievement by several factors -- including race and ethnicity.

"Closing gaps is definitely part of the issue," Michael T. Nettles, a professor at the University of Michigan and a prominent researcher on educational assessment, student performance and achievement, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in Sunday's edition.

Some St. Louis area districts have been working on achievement initiatives for several years. They largely focus on increasing parental involvement, providing tutoring and additional training and workshops for teachers.

A year ago, the St. Louis Black Leadership Roundtable asked St. Louis area school boards to pass resolutions to develop plans to close the gap.

So far, 17 districts have done so in ways the group considers acceptable.