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Thursday, August 28, 2008

Brooks Seeks To Close Minority Achievement Gap

By Andrea Schoellkopf
Journal Staff Writer
       Albuquerque Public Schools Superintendent Winston Brooks met with some critics of his recent administrative hires on Wednesday, and offered up a solution to closing the achievement gap between Anglos and minorities.
    "We need to have high expectations for all kids," Brooks told a small group of Hispano Roundtable members during an amicable meeting at the César Chávez Community Center. "It's a cultural issue. We don't want to be the ones whose kids have low expectations."
    Earlier this month, some of the group's members said they had not been able to meet with Brooks, but said that many of his top administrative hires were nonminorities. Two associate superintendents remaining from former Superintendent Elizabeth Everitt's administration are Hispanic, however, along with one of the new associates.
    "The emphasis goes beyond putting Hispanics in key positions," Roundtable Chairman Juan Jose Peña said. "We want Hispanos who are experienced educators who are committed and who are able to do the work."
    Board member Marty Esquivel, who attended the meeting, said the board shared its concerns about diversity when Brooks interviewed for the job.
    "I'm telling you, I think that's been met," Esquivel said.
    Brooks' proposals for improving student achievement drew praise from some of the Roundtable members.
    For instance, Brooks wants the number of third-graders reading at proficiency levels under the state Standards Based Assessment to go from 56 percent last year to 59 percent in the current school year.
    For Hispanics, the 26 percent achievement gap with Anglo students in reading would decrease to 23 percent next year and to 17 percent in three years, according to Brooks' goals.
    "I love it," said Roundtable Vice Chairman Ralph Arellanes, adding that it was the first time he's seen measurable goals set out by a superintendent that addresses bringing Hispanic achievement to par with the rest of the state.
    Brooks said every school would have targets based on a 3 percent increase, although higher performing schools would not be expected to rise as much and lower performing schools would set higher targets.