I thought this Pacific Research Institute article was very interesting. Rachel Chaney discusses Superintendent O'Connell's "Achievement Gap Summit" and suggests that perhaps racism isn't really the explanation for the achievement gaps.

This does not mean these parents are any less dedicated or qualified as parents. It just means that some students might face socioeconomic disadvantages that others do not. All of these elements complicate O’Connell’s claim that racism is responsible for the achievement gap. So do high achieving schools with large numbers of minority students.

American Indian Public Charter School in Oakland, for example, has a student population of mostly minority students who come from families classified as “poor.” Yet on standardized tests, American Indian has outperformed other area schools, as well as most schools in the state.

Perhaps the teachers at American Indian are among the few non-racist teachers in the state. It seems more likely, however, that the school has adopted successful strategies and set high expectations for success that have led to high scores.

Instead of blaming racism for the problem, O’Connell and California educators should look for ways to improve teacher quality — the factor most highly correlated with student success. Bonus pay initiatives or alternative certification routes might worry teachers’ unions who don’t want to lose their control over California schools. But such initiatives would also help narrow the achievement gap by encouraging and rewarding highly qualified teachers.

Those looking for blame should consider a system that encourages mediocrity in the name of self-esteem and shies away from standards in the name of fairness. Maybe what our schools really need are teachers and principals committed to setting high standards for all students, rather than making excuses about income or race.

The real racism lies in the assumption that the achievement gap is insurmountable. Policymakers, voters, and parents should seek reforms that make schools and teachers accountable and that reward districts and teachers who do achieve results.

I can't help but agree with Rachel. I think in the end, it's all about the teaching. What happens in the classroom is what makes the most difference about whether students are successful academically or not. While I'm sure there are probably some teachers out there who are racists, as there are in any other profession, but I'd bet that most are not. I think that this focus on racism is just an excuse to avoid looking at teaching strategies and other changes at the school site which are difficult to implement but would show positive results. It's much easier to blame racism and have conferences to talk about how racist we are. Let's focus on strategies that work in the classroom. Let's learn from schools like American Indian Public Charter that are successful at getting all students to grade-level. They know the answers and we just need to pay attention.