The Black Leadership Roundtable says the effort to reduce the education divide between black and white students in the St. Louis region “is moving in the right direction.”
The BLR issued its 2007 regional report card on the African-American achievement gap last Sunday at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
According to the report, 21 of 25 school districts in the region reported progress in elimination of the academic achievement gap.
“Although we still have a lot of work to do, we do see trends moving in the right direction,” said Charles Saulsberry, vice chairman of the BLR.
“It shows promise but the need for more progressive action.”
Of approximately 178,992 students in the St. Louis region, 85,073 (or 47.5 percent) are African-American.
“Expecting lower expectations for African American students and not expecting them to score as high is something that’s been around historically,” Saulsberry said.
“A part of our effort is to try to change that dynamic.”
In the area of communication arts, there was a decrease in the gap between black and white students at all levels, with elementary schools showing the largest improvement.
In mathematics, however, the gap increased slightly at the elementary and middle school levels.
Affton was the only school district to show decreases in all six categories.
“It is time for the region to work together to break down those great white walls and work together,” said Gwen Packnett, education chairperson of BLR.
“There should be no gap in the performance between white students and African American students.”
The regional results were based on the MAP Index, a number calculated by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to measure academic performance.
Other factors including graduation, dropout and attendance rates were also included in the Roundtable’s report card.
Overall, the St. Louis region is doing well when compared to the rest of the state.
“Our success is not simply measured by a decrease in the gap,” Packnett said. “But we must continue to encourage parental and community involvement.”
Saulsberry added that the Roundtable’s list of four desirables have been strategically adopted in most schools.
The list includes a need for culturally competent educators and staff; facilities, equipment and an environment that are conducive to student’s learning; testing for diagnostic and prescriptive purposes; and reducing the impact of student mobility where necessary.
“We need to design a course in which we recognize the cultural differences, but we don’t use those differences as an excuse not to seek high achievement among minority groups,” Saulsberry said.
More than 300 people attended the presentation.
John Moten, chairperson of the BLR, said the attendance “shows the community’s concern and care.”
“They’re putting their money where their mouth is,” Moten said.
Kathleen Osborn of the Regional Business Council, said there is a link between education and economic development saying, “If our region is to prosper, all of our children must be educated.”
Also present were state Rep. Esther Haywood; Tony Thompson, president and CEO of Kwame Building Group; and Lynn Beckwith Jr., endowed professor at UM-St. Louis and keynote speaker for Sunday’s event.
“We’re going to have to evaluate if we have to make a change – doing the same old thing the same old way. A change is going to have to come,” said Haywood.
For more information on the Black Leadership Roundtable or for a copy of its 2007 Regional Report Card: Eliminating the African American Academic Achievement Gap call (314) 367-8984.