The Achievement Gap

State Achievement Gap Committee releases report to public officials

OEO is proud to be part of the state Achievement Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee. The Committee was charged with synthesizing the findings and recommendations from the 2008 achievement gap studies (see link below) and recommending policies and strategies to close the achievement gap in our state to public officials. The Committee met 8 times between September and December and drafted recommendations to the Legislature, the Governor, OSPI, the State Board of Education the Professional Educator Standards Board and others.

Read the Committee’s most recent report, “Closing Opportunity Gaps in Washington’s Public Education System

Washington State efforts to address achievement gaps

The closure of the disparity in academic performance between diverse and white students is one of the most pressing education issues in our state. In March 2008, the Washington State Legislature approved House Bill 2722. This bill mandated that the Commission on African American Affairs create a committee to develop a plan and recommendations for the closure of the achievement gap between African American students and their cohorts. The Office of the Education Ombudsman was part of the committee.

The committee report was presented to the Legislature, State Board of Education and other public officials in January and February 2009.

Read the African American Achievement Gap Report

The Commission on Hispanic Affairs, Commission on Asian Pacific Affairs and Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs also worked on comprehensive studies on the achievement gap of their respective groups of students. They presented their reports to the Legislature and public officials with the Commission on African American Affairs.

Read the Hispanic Achievement Gap Report

Read the Asian Achievement Gap Report

Read the Pacific Islander Achievement Gap Report

Read the Native American Achievement Gap Report

Based on these reports, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 5973, which was signed into law by the Governor in May 2009. This legislation creates the state-level Achievement Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee, which includes Office of the Education Ombudsman.

This committee will develop strategies to close achievement gaps of diverse groups of students and recommend policy changes to support those strategies to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Professional Educator Standards Board and State Board of Education.