Group sets goals for closing gap in schools

Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2005

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On Saturday, Eliminating the Achievement Gap Inc. celebrated its second anniversary of working to accelerate African-American student achievement in Frederick County. The ‘‘gap” the group is trying to overcome is the result of underachievement by minority or at-risk students on standardized tests as compared to their white peers in high school.

Board of Education member Darryl Boffman, who is one of the group’s founders, said the group has made strides since forming in 2003.

‘‘In the first year, we got the word out and brought together the school community with the African-American community and in the second year, we focused on establishing partnerships,” he said. ‘‘Now, in year three, we want to get more formulated and conduct actual activities in the community.”

Among the events planned for the next year are community forums and a college night for minority students to learn about furthering their education.

At the group’s latest meeting, representatives of Frederick County Public Schools, including teachers, principals and Superintendent Linda D. Burgee, sat alongside parents, representatives from community groups such as the YMCA and others to work together toward academic success.

‘‘We’ve really expanded our partnership with the community and that’s what it takes,” Boffman said. ‘‘Doing this alone just won’t work.”

Some of the group’s current partnership projects include a book drive for younger students in collaboration with the NAACP, and getting donated computers loaded with software to distribute to students in need.

Members also focused on the future, specifically on the state High School Assessment tests and ensuring minority students pass all four tests to get their diplomas in 2009.

Group member Earl Robbins told those assembled at the meeting that while the requirement is a few years away, working to ensure students get their diplomas starts now.

‘‘Having a high school diploma is the bare minimum for the world today... and we don’t want there to be one person come June 2009 to say ‘I didn’t know,’” he said.

The group is planning a forum at its next meeting Dec. 17 for parents and families to learn about the assessments and how they can help students succeed.

Robbins, a former school board member, said that making all students aware of academic success is something each member of the group can do everyday.

‘‘When you see young people in your church or on the street... ask them how they are doing in school, tell them about the [High School Assessment tests] and offer to help,” he said.

President Lorell Angelety has six grandchildren in Frederick County schools, ranging from first grade to high school, and said his group will work with students of all ages to ensure they succeed in the classroom and beyond.

‘‘We’re accomplishing a lot and the people involved are dedicated to getting the job done,” he said. ‘‘We don’t want to wait until crisis arises, we want to get the word out now before that can happen.”

Burgee applauded the group’s proactive efforts to help student achievement by involving multiple stakeholders.

‘‘It is really heartening to see a community pull together and work collaboratively with the schools to help students,” she said. ‘‘By working as partners... they better understand our challenges and we understand what’s important to them. We all want the same thing, and that is to eliminate the achievement gap.”

Theresa Brown has been coming to the group’s meetings for four months as a grandparent with two students in the school system, but with the goal of doing her part to help and encourage all African-American youth.

While glad that school officials like Burgee and other administrators make time on a Saturday to come to meetings, she’d like to see more young people attend to see firsthand the collaborative effort focused on their success.

‘‘They should see what is going on,” Brown said. ‘‘I’d love to see 10 to 15 eighth- and ninth-graders at our meetings because we are here for them.”