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Saturday, October 24, 2009

Summit Series Targets Achievement Gap


Journal Staff Report
          Gov. Bill Richardson on Monday will host the first of a three-part summit series on closing the achievement gap and increasing graduation rates for New Mexico students.
        Monday's summit focuses on the achievement gap between African American and white students. It is closed to the public.
        Only 61 percent of black students in New Mexico graduate from high school, compared with 71 percent of whites.
        Though proficiency rates for African American students in math and reading have generally improved the last five years, they remain low, and the gap between African American and white students has persisted.
        Richardson has pledged $9.4 million in discretionary stimulus funds to close the state's achievement gap.
        The African American Solutions Summit is co-hosted by Education Secretary Veronica Garcia and Harold Bailey, Executive Director of the Office of African American Affairs.
        "This is unlike anything we have ever done before, in that, it is 100 participants brought together to be a community think tank to ignite effective action and dramatic impact," Richardson said.
       

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