Post by title1parent on Aug 18, 2010 5:37:34 GMT -5
www.suntimes.com/news/education/2609728,CST-NWS-racegap18.article
Trend in ACT scores shows growing racial gap
August 18, 2010
BY ROSALIND ROSSI Education Reporter
The average ACT score of Illinois seniors dropped this year, fueled in part by a widening achievement gap.
Statewide, the average member of Illinois' Class of 2010 -- both public and private school seniors -- racked up an ACT score of 20.7, down from 20.8 from the year before.
"You never want to see a dip," said Illinois State Board of Education spokeswoman Mary Fergus. "However, we are mirroring the nation in that .1 percent decrease.''
Also, this year's Illinois score was up solidly from five years ago, when Illinois seniors averaged 20.5 on the 36-point college admission test.
This year's decline, though small, is "statistically significant,'' but given Illinois' slow but steady increase since 2006, "I don't think that's a drop that I would be concerned about yet,'' said ACT spokesman Ed Colby.
"If next year's scores are down, then we are looking at a trend."
While white Illinois seniors saw their average ACT scores rise from 22.0 five years ago to 22.4 in both 2009 and 2010, the state's African-American students saw their scores go in the opposite direction.
The average African-American Illinois senior scored 16.9 in 2006, compared to 16.8 in 2009 and 16.7 in 2010, new data released today showed.
Illinois' Hispanic scores dipped from 18.2 last year to 18.0 this year, but were up slightly from five years ago, when Illinois Hispanics averaged a score of 17.9.
The state's highest-achieving ethnic group -- Asians -- saw the biggest gains on a test used by many Illinois colleges as one measurement of college readiness. Their scores rose from 22.6 five years ago, to 23.7 last year and 23.8 this year.
The growing gap comes even though the No Child Left Behind Law has stepped up pressure on schools to close such gaps on state tests, which in Illinois includes the ACT.
African-American students stand to benefit if Illinois wins its bid for $400 million in Federal Race to the Top funds, Fergus said, because part of the money would bankroll the "turnaround" of low-scoring schools, many of which serve minority students.
Trend in ACT scores shows growing racial gap
August 18, 2010
BY ROSALIND ROSSI Education Reporter
The average ACT score of Illinois seniors dropped this year, fueled in part by a widening achievement gap.
Statewide, the average member of Illinois' Class of 2010 -- both public and private school seniors -- racked up an ACT score of 20.7, down from 20.8 from the year before.
"You never want to see a dip," said Illinois State Board of Education spokeswoman Mary Fergus. "However, we are mirroring the nation in that .1 percent decrease.''
Also, this year's Illinois score was up solidly from five years ago, when Illinois seniors averaged 20.5 on the 36-point college admission test.
This year's decline, though small, is "statistically significant,'' but given Illinois' slow but steady increase since 2006, "I don't think that's a drop that I would be concerned about yet,'' said ACT spokesman Ed Colby.
"If next year's scores are down, then we are looking at a trend."
While white Illinois seniors saw their average ACT scores rise from 22.0 five years ago to 22.4 in both 2009 and 2010, the state's African-American students saw their scores go in the opposite direction.
The average African-American Illinois senior scored 16.9 in 2006, compared to 16.8 in 2009 and 16.7 in 2010, new data released today showed.
Illinois' Hispanic scores dipped from 18.2 last year to 18.0 this year, but were up slightly from five years ago, when Illinois Hispanics averaged a score of 17.9.
The state's highest-achieving ethnic group -- Asians -- saw the biggest gains on a test used by many Illinois colleges as one measurement of college readiness. Their scores rose from 22.6 five years ago, to 23.7 last year and 23.8 this year.
The growing gap comes even though the No Child Left Behind Law has stepped up pressure on schools to close such gaps on state tests, which in Illinois includes the ACT.
African-American students stand to benefit if Illinois wins its bid for $400 million in Federal Race to the Top funds, Fergus said, because part of the money would bankroll the "turnaround" of low-scoring schools, many of which serve minority students.
