Chapter Five: Reforms that could help Narrow the gap
In the final chapter of his book, Rothstein explains that the in order to effectively close the achievement gap between these students, policymakers must embrace and advocate for incremental changes that go beyond only school reforms.
Rothstein's Possible Reforms:
1) Increased budget for Federal subsidizing of Rent of Low Income Families
2) Creation of School-Community Health Clinics
3) Access of Low Income Children to Early Childhood Education, After-School Programs, and Summer Programs
Rothstein ends the chapter discussing the possible dangers of too much teacher accoutablity with the black-white achievement gap. He believes that while teacher accountability is a good thing, the increased pressure put on teachers to meet impossible standards for their students may actually be driving away good teachers.
Rothstein's Possible Reforms:
1) Increased budget for Federal subsidizing of Rent of Low Income Families
- In earlier chapters, Rothstein discussed how the increased mobility and uncertain housing of the average low income families is detrimental to their children’s education.
- Increasing the budget for programs like the federal subsidizes would be a way for these students to have a stable housing and possible narrow the achievement gap.
2) Creation of School-Community Health Clinics
- In Chapter One, Rothstein explained how lower income students and their families have less access to health care and thus have more health issues that prevent them from succeeding in the classroom.
- By spending around 2,500 dollars more per student, these clinics could ensure that all students are healthy enough to learn to their full potential.
3) Access of Low Income Children to Early Childhood Education, After-School Programs, and Summer Programs
- Throughout the book, Rothstein discusses how middle class students have more exposure to educational things that prepare them for the learning environment more so than the low income students.
- He believes to remedy this discrepancy, all children from an early age should have access to these different programs for the opportunity for better academic achievement and increased social skills.
Rothstein ends the chapter discussing the possible dangers of too much teacher accoutablity with the black-white achievement gap. He believes that while teacher accountability is a good thing, the increased pressure put on teachers to meet impossible standards for their students may actually be driving away good teachers.