STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE
INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES

WHAT SCHOOLS CAN DO: SENSIBLE STEPS IN CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP

June 2001 the North Carolina Education Research Council published a policy research brief detailing ten critical points that must be addressed to close the achievement gap between Black and White students in our public schools. Below is a brief description of those points.

• Extend high quality, academically-focused early childhood education to all children at risk of school failure.
  High quality early childhood programs that focus on academic preparation can significantly reduce the gap and its lasting effects into future schooling.
  
  
• Ensure that African-American children are taught by able, well-prepared, experienced teachers.
  Quality teachers assigned to the students who need the most academic support may be the most powerful immediate and long-term influence on student success.
  
  
• Reduce class size in the early grades.
  Research for many years has produced evidence that small class size (18 or less) can produce large and lasting gains for all students.
  
  
• Adopt sound and equitable grouping practices in elementary schools.
  Ability grouping as is commonly practiced does little to reduce the achievement gap. Sound equitable grouping practices can reduce the gap.
  
  
• Assure that African-American students are equitably represented across curriculum tracks in high schools.
  Students who are in top tracks of curricula versus the students in lower tracks of curricula represent a difference in opportunity to learn. All students should be required to take challenging curricula.
  
  
• Bridge home and school cultures by adapting teaching and discipline practices to suit students' background.
  Much research indicates that there are no unique teaching techniques that are especially necessary to teach African-American students. However, there are strong indicators that suggest that explicit, direct-instruction and discipline practices are beneficial.
  
  
• Find reasons to expect each student to succeed.
  Find reasons to respect every student as "a valuable person." Search for students' strengths and talents.
  
  
• Demand success by holding both schools and students accountable.
  Maintain high expectations for all students while also maintaining the spirit of accountability for schools and students.
  
  
• Support students with individual tutoring, more comprehensive reforms, summer programs, and follow-up assistance.
  Trained tutors and volunteers can be a great support for students who need extra help or more time to grasp concepts and information. Tightly organized summer programs aligned to the regular curriculum can be quite beneficial.
  
  
• Desegregate schools and programs within schools.
  Both Black and White children in a thoroughly desegregated school environment get better teachers, more resources, and achieve at higher rates than do children in predominantly black schools.

Charles L. Thompson and Sam D. O'Quinn, III
The North Carolina Education Research Council
Eliminating the Black-White Achievement Gap: A Summary of Research
June 2001