The Education Gap in America

Courtney R.

The education gap in America between whites and minorities continues to widen each year. The education gap between American and foreign students has also widen. Although America spends more money on education, the education system still continues to fail in giving every child the opportunity to reach his or her fullest potential. Yet, the expectation is for all students to learn the same material and to perform on test such as the Georgia High School Graduation Test at the same rate.

Studies have shown that the failure could be found in the way material is being taught in the United States. It has been noted that U.S. schools try to teach many topics quickly and only teach procedures (Wu, 2005). Since concepts are not taught, students do not retain the knowledge of the subject. In a subject such as math, where the subject matter is cumulative, students struggle to advance if they do not retain prior knowledge. If this is the case then the idea that students are able to pass the graduation test is a problem. According to Jacob (2009) high-stakes testing was not associated with improved scores but was associated with higher dropout rates (Jacob, 2009).

Schools in general need to review how math is taught in their schools. Are teachers teaching procedures to pass a test or are they teaching concepts to increase knowledge? If increased knowledge is the goal, what technique and curriculum is being used for low level math and reading students? Will motivational techniques need to be intergraded in the curriculum?

As of fall 2011 students will no longer be required to pass the Georgia High School Graduation Test in order to earn a high school diploma. Normally student would be required to pass tests in English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and writing. The content area tests are referred to as the Georgia High School Graduation Tests (GHSGT). The writing test is referred to as the Georgia High School Writing Test (GHSWT) (Georgia Department of Education). Most students attend school from kindergarten to 12th grade, and then they graduate. Other students are unable to graduate even if they attend school for those thirteen school years. One major reason is the inability to pass the GHSGT. Although the Georgia High School Graduation Test will be removed as a requirement for High School Diplomas, there are graduates who are in a dilemma who have not yet received their diplomas. These students deserve to have their scores reviewed for composite scoring.

In order for previous students to receive a high school diploma they were required to pass this test which covers five subjects. If students were unable to pass the test they would not receive a diploma. The ideal of students having to pass a test is not an uncommon proposal, yet it is an issue that has create problems for those students who do not test well, who are experiencing academic issues and who may not have the advantages of all students testing. Although standardized testing has become a mandatory part of the education process, it is necessary to examine if standardized testing such as the Georgia High School Graduation Test should be administered as a way to determine if a student should receive their high school diploma. It is necessary to examine because many of the students who did not pass the GHSGT during high school ended up without having a clear path to follow in life. Students then turned to what an education is suppose to prevent, and that is dropping out of school, unemployment, lack of motivation and dealing drugs as means to survive. If the government has decided to eliminate the test and students are being promoted to the next grade as a result of final exams and end of course test, those students who are still facing the test and who have graduated should be able to have their scores reviewed as composite scoring.

The current testing system does not take into account the diversity in schools. All schools are not equally serving the same students. This inequality of socioeconomic status is one of the major reasons students may have difficulties with testing. Students that come from lower SES are expected to produce results that are equal to the higher SES students. The formula here does not fit. Students who have parents who are involved in their education, who are stable and who are developing the necessary skills are the students who will be successful on standardized test regardless of their SES.

Without a high school diploma, these individuals become more likely than their graduate counterparts to spend their lives sporadically unemployed, requiring government assistance, or rotating into and out of the prison system (Belfield & Levin, 2007; Bridgeland, Dilulio, & Morison, 2006). Further, these dropouts and their children are more likely to experience higher rates of poverty and more frequent and severe health problems (Belfanz & Letgers, 2004; Levin, Belfield, Muenning, & Rouse, 2007). Additionally, nearly half of all the nation's minority students, whose parent populations are expected to increase by 10 percent by the year 2020, fail to graduate at all (Diplomas Count, 2008) (Broome).

Recently the Atlanta Journal Constitution announced that Georgia will be phasing out the Georgia High School Graduation Test, which is what needs to be done. However, what happens to those students who are now adults and lingering with the issue of not passing the test? There are opinions that justify that many of these students do not deserve a diploma and that the lack of knowledge will only create more issue for the gap in student achievement in the State of Georgia. Realistically, if there is more time focused on education a child as opposed to testing then an education without standardized testing can be achieved.

The set up of the graduation test GHSGT is a problem because it also tests students on material that they learned in ninth and tenth grade. It is not fair to test a student on material that is not current and fresh in their minds. The End of Course of Test is a more precise measurement of what students are learning because it reflects what took place in the classroom in a more reasonable amount of time. When students are able to take a test at the time they are done with a class, it will give the student an opportunity to show what they know.

Another reason The GHSGT is an unfair practice is because all states do not offer testing as a criteria for graduating. This becomes unfair to students who are testing and unable to pass the test. There is emphasis on the fact that these students who have not passed the test are not able to be in competition for the same jobs. Yet, other states are not testing and students are earning diplomas and able to attend colleges in Georgia. Is it fair that one student will not have the opportunity