Focus On: Closing the Achievement Gaps for Six Groups

NEA Series Identifies Barriers to Learning - And Resources to Break Them Down

NEA Human and Civil Rights Department

The National Education Association’s commitment to creating great public schools for every child requires working to ensure that all students are learning and succeeding in schools. This task is challenging. From its beginnings, our nation’s school system has treated students differently, depending on their race, social class, and gender, and even today, significant gaps in academic achievement persist among groups.

The 2004-2005 Focus On series examines and enriches our understanding of the achievement gaps for six groups: American Indian and Alaska Native students; Asian and Pacific Islander students; Black students; Hispanic students; women and girls; and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered students. Each publication highlights some of the barriers to learning and success faced by one of these groups of students, concrete strategies to address these barriers, and additional resources for school personnel.

Here are the six Focus On downloadable publications:

» American Indian/Alaska Natives  (  211 KB)

» Asian/Pacific Islanders (  215 KB)

» Blacks (  133 KB)

» Hispanics (  149 KB)

» Women and Girls (  91 KB)

» Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, and Transgendered Persons (  825 KB)