REPORTS

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT GAP PILOT PROGRAM

The academic achievement gap between white and minority (African American, Hispanic and Native American) students is well documented. School administrators have known for as long as we have been able to disaggregate data that there was a gap to overcome. If we want our schools to lead the nation in public education, then we must address this parity issue and develop initiatives to ensure that the achievement gap closes.

One such initiative the State Board of Education is implementing in the 2000-01 school year is a pilot program in five school systems that will test and evaluate a revised school accountability model for the ABCs of Public Education.

The pilot program came about as a result of legislative action directing the State Board of Education to establish a pilot program in up to five local school systems to "determine whether revisions in the present accountability model are likely to result in more students demonstrating mastery of grade level subject matter and skills." Public school systems in Bladen County, Craven County, Winston-Salem/Forsyth, Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Elizabeth City-Pasquotank volunteered and were selected to participate in the pilot program.

Dr. Henry Johnson, associate superintendent for the Department of Public Instruction, said the program should help close the student achievement gap. "The school systems selected provide good geographic, demographic, rural and urban coverage of the state. I'm excited about the possibilities and the impact it can have on the state as a whole," said Johnson.

If the schools are successful in increasing student achievement, teachers and other certified personnel will receive an additional $750 bonus. Teacher assistants would receive an additional $375 bonus. These bonuses are in addition to what teachers, certified personnel and teacher assistants receive when their school meets or exceeds growth goals established by the state under the ABCs.

The Legislature is being asked to provide funding for the program in the short session (which starts May 8, 2000).