Shrink achievement gap with choice in education
Despite so much talk about the economy, more North Carolinians consider education to be the state's number one priority. According to a statewide survey released in June, the percentage of voters naming education as their top issue has more than doubled since last year. Most noteworthy is the demographic to whom education matters most: young, African American males who are self-described liberals.
Young black men may not be the face of your local PTA. Nor are they the target audience of government bureaucrats who rally to raise taxes for school funding. But interest in education among African Americans is unquestionably widespread, much like the achievement gap for low-income and minority students in our state's public schools.
During the 2007-08 school year, only 29.5% of African American children passed both reading and math end-of-grade tests in North Carolina. As recently reported by Ashley Wilson in "Asheville achievement gap wide," numbers were comparable in Asheville City Schools this past school year. Only 60% of the school system's African American children in grades 3-8 passed state math tests. In reading, only 42% of African American students scored passing grades.
Considering those results, it's no wonder that more North Carolina families are seeking educational options. In fact, current economic conditions have had little to no effect on private school attendance rosters. During the 2008-09 school year, the state reported record-setting enrollment in K-12 private schools, indicating a gain of 1% over the previous school year.
And demand isn't limited to schools serving primarily white, upper-income students. Asheville's New City Christian School offers private instruction for low-income and at-risk elementary students, with the mission to eliminate the achievement gap by imparting knowledge, confidence and hope. "In the past we had to go out and look for families," said the school's founder and director, Coral Jeffries. "This year they came to us." According Jeffries, this school year marks the first time that enrollment has reached full capacity for first graders. Any new first grade applicants will be added to a waiting list.
Waiting lists are a familiar theme for North Carolina's public charter schools, which currently remain capped at 100 despite waiting lists reportedly in excess of 15,000 families. While all public charter schools in Buncombe County reached expected growth goals last year, the county still has only three public charters. The Obama administration’s strong endorsement of public charter schools, particularly those targeting the achievement gap, compels North Carolina to demonstrate progressive charter school policies to compete for federal funding. More importantly, the state has a moral obligation to its children, especially those from poor and working-class families.
All in all, it should come as no surprise that North Carolina parents--regardless of race or income--are increasingly concerned about their children's education. After all, a sound educational system is the cornerstone of a sound economy. Until our state embraces true school reform, you can expect to see a continued push for more parental school choice and quality options for all children in North Carolina.
