CLOSING ACHIEVEMENT GAPS

The Correlation Between Closing the Achievement Gaps with Effective

 Leadership

 Paul Archuleta

 NMHU-Rio Rancho?

Abstract

This field project research paper focuses on closing the achievement gaps that exist in education among Hispanic minorities.  Applying different effective leaderships to close the achievement gaps is the solution to this huge problem.  The achievement gap problem is one that has plagued our schools, economy, and society all throughout history.  There were always be some students who will slip through the cracks regardless of any intervention. However the paper investigates some existing schools where the achievement gap has been narrowed.

The issue of achievement gaps is chosen because growing up in northern New Mexico, being Hispanic, and going to school wasn't very easy for me.  During my grandfathers generation many of the Hispanic students were made to feel inferior because of there language.  Many attributed the language challenges as being the primary reason for this occurrence. Today the Spanish language encouraged in high school, and students who need learning assistance in other languages have better support systems. As a result more Hispanic students are given a chance to succeed than before.

Table of Contents

Abstract2

Chapter 1: Introduction4

Background Info4

Statement of problem4

Purpose of the Study5

Research Question5

Definition of Terms6

Limitations of Study6

Significance of Study7

Highlights of literature review8

Data collection strategies8

Summary of findings8

Chapter 2- Literature Review (5-8 pages)9

Chapter 3 Methodology (3-5 Pages)16

Demographics/Content of Study16

Re- State your research question16

Methods16

Ethical Concerns17

Chapter 4- Findings (5-8) Pages19

Chapter 5 - Discussion (5-6Pages)26

References33

Appendices- INTERVIEWS36

Chapter 1: Introduction

Background Info

Hispanic students are notably behind their white counterparts in the core academic skills. Although the precise size of the gap depends on the subject area, age or grade, and the assessment, by all measures, a significant gap in mathematics, reading skills and science exists between Hispanic and white students. Educational achievement, or knowledge learned in school, matters. Persons with the same academic diploma often have vastly different levels of math knowledge, reading abilities or problem-solving skills. These differences in school achievement have important effects on social and economic success. Children with greater early cognitive skills are likely to attain higher levels of schooling. High achieving high school students go on to more selective colleges. And teens with higher test scores are paid significantly more in midcareer, even after controlling for other factors. Finally, some evidence suggests that the economic rewards for achievement are increasing over time.

Statement of problem

In “Women and Men Teachers' Approaches to Leadership Styles” by Illhan Gunbayi the author talks about transformational leadership and its direct effect on the values, self-esteem, trust, confidence, and motivation of an entire school. Gunbayi (2005) Gunbayi believes that these components are essential to moving a school towards improvement of educational gaps. A transformational leader instills feelings of confidence, admiration, and commitment in the school because the leader is “charismatic, practices individual consideration, intellectually stimulates followers, and manages by exception” (Gunbayi, 2005,  p.687). In order for transformational leadership to be effective in filling gaps transformational leaders need to have intellectual stimulation to be creative. (Gunbavi 2005, p.325) This in turn motivates people to go beyond ...