Rationale
There are numerous practices that have effectively addressed minority achievement and reduced disparities. All school systems will benefit from information about such proven practices. In turn, these programs reflect measures of strategic systemic reform to address achievement disparities. [Note: Under the sponsorship of MSDE, the Maryland State Education That Is Multicultural Advisory Council is already scheduled to release a report on promising and effective educational practices for minority students during 1998-1999.]
Recommendation 5: Data Related to Achievement
Along with race, MSDE should intensively investigate the inferential aspects of the relationship between poverty and achievement in local school systems throughout Maryland. MSDE should provide statistics related to the condition of schools serving various and predominant student populations. In addition to funding inequities, information such as the professional education and teaching experience of the staff, spending allocations for instruction, school organization and personnel deployment, use of federal and state categorical funds, use of technology, etc. is important in developing policies to maximize school effects on achievmem.
Rationale
Research shows a high correlation between poor school outcomes and the achievement of students from poor family situations. The data, though not available for the current repon. should be analyzed in future reports to provide insights on how poverty affects student learning. There is research thai indicates that when poverty and race, along with attendance and other student data, are included in analysis of correlates of achievement, race does not appear as a salient factor: however, poverty has consistently been found to be significantly related to student achievement. The relative influence of these factors in Maryland schools should be analyzed in-depth. In addition, there is a lack of information on what makes some schools with a high concentration of students from minority and/or poverty backgrounds successful - a critical database for making informed school improvement decisions.
Recommendation 6: Data on School Effects
MSDE should identify schools with high concentrations of students from poverty and/or minority backgrounds who are academically successful, and identify ways to help other schools focus on positive school effects.
Rationale
Widespread application of effective school practices is feasible and can lead to significant positive learning outcomes for all students, including and especially those who are at risk for failure. Nurturing academic talents among students from minority and/or poverty backgrounds is an area that needs to be emphasized when addressing educational equity issues.
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