Education

1
Discussion
Define Success. What does it mean to be successful?
What were your educational aspirations when you were a child growing up? Has
it changed? If yes, why?
What were the educational levels of people in your community or neighborhood?
In your family?

2
Importance of Education
Education plays a critical role in life outcomes.
Education has been a key to upward mobility for African Americans.


3
Demographic Portrait of Education of
African Americans
Educational level has gradually increased since the 1940s.
In 2010, 8% of Blacks and 5.1% of Whites were considered drop-outs.
In 2010, 84.1% of African American over the age of 25 had obtained a
high school diploma or GED.
Cities with large African American populations have lower graduation
rates.
College enrollment has increased (59% of Black students plan to go to
college in 12
th
grade; 15% enrollment).
However, college completion rates are of concern.
Only 39% of African American students graduate within 6 years compared to 62% of
Caucasian and 69% Asian students


4
Historical Perspective
During the period of enslavement, it was a crime to teach Blacks to read and
write.
Following the civil war, the Freedmans Bureau established by the federal
government established schools.
Plessy versus Ferguson (separate but equal), 1896.
Brown versus Board of Education (1954).
The flight of Whites to the suburbs during the 1950s and 1960s and
segregation
5
Experiences in school
Teacher expectations
Parent/Teacher relationships
Disciplinary actions
Relationship between perceived discrimination and achievement motivation
Ethnic identification serves as a buffer under these conditions

6
Educational Contexts
Neighborhoods influence academic achievement
School achievement scores (resources and funding)

Disparities in special education with rates three times higher
for AA
33% of children labeled mentally retarded are AA although they
comprise 17% of school-aged population.

Testing and Accountability
No Child Left Behind
7
Educational Contexts
AA are underrepresented in gifted programs
Use of IQ test as primary criterion is problematic
Bias in recruitment process

Alternative education
Black centered schools
Home schooling

8
Higher Education
Some research suggest that high school are not adequately preparing students
for college
HBCUs
About 107
In 2010, 8.75% of Blacks attending college were at HBCUs
Ethnically diverse college contributes to well-being of all students
9
Cultural factors
Stereotype Threat (Steele)
Salience of race may led to underperformance
Oppositional Frame of Reference (Fordum & Ogbu)
Academic competence may be less central to self esteem
Leads to disidentification with academic success
10