Closing the Achievement Gap of Multicultural Education

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Introduction Education experts have spent many years planning and revising learning material and assessment tools to meet the demands of diverse learners coming into the 21st century. Educators have responded to this demand by becoming more aware of the need for a multicultural education program that helps meet the needs of each diverse learner, examining their own attitudes and bias opinions toward minority students, and acknowledging the important role every stakeholder plays in providing an equal education to every learner. However, in spite of these efforts, there is still a growing concern for the achievement gap that remains evident among students. Despite some evidence of success and strong progress by black, Hispanic, and socioeconomic disadvantaged students from 1970 to 1988, the education reform efforts of the last decade have not enabled significant numbers of students to become educationally competitive or to close the gaps in achievement (Lee, 2001). The purpose of this paper is to reflect on multicultural education, the achievement gap, and unresolved issues, prospects and challenges moving through the 21st century. I will show my knowledge, through research, of the efforts and tactics educators and policy makers are being urged to consider helping narrow the academic disparities which continue to divide racial and ethnic groups moving forward. Furthermore, after viewing the required video presented by Dr. Ferguson, I will describe my views on the achievement gap, and how as a teacher, I can implement some of the suggestions and concepts of Dr. Ferguson into my classroom, school and/or district. After all, we need to arrive at mid-century with adults and children from every background feeling they have as m... ... middle of paper ... ...). Professional community and closing the student achievement gap. Advocating for What’s Right: A One-Day NEA Symposium on Critical Issues for Educators. Presentation conducted from Harvard University, Washington, D.C. Ferguson, R. F. (2011, October 15). Educational excellence with equity: A social movement for the 21st century [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_KTzDUcqrk&feature=youtu.be Lee, J. (2002). Racial and ethnic achievement gap trends: Reversing the progress toward equity? Educational Researcher, 31(1), 3-12. Manning, L. & Baruth. L. (2009). Multicultural education of children and adolescents (5th Ed.). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon. Williams, B., & Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, A. A. (2003). Closing the achievement gap: A vision for changing beliefs and practices (2nd Ed.). Alexandria, VA.

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