Date Approved
8-1-2024
Graduate Degree Type
Project
Degree Name
Education (M.Ed.)
Degree Program
Education Leadership & Counseling
First Advisor
Dr. Sherie Klee
Academic Year
2023/2024
Abstract
Racially diverse classrooms are not being taught in racially diverse ways, adding to an ever-growing academic gap for students of color. Various studies have pointed to several root causes to this issue, including a lack of representation, bias, inequitable discipline, poor curriculum, and socioeconomic disparity. Due to these causes, students of color are projected to be less successful in state testing and school overall, less likely to obtain a higher education, more likely to be disciplined, more likely to feel a detachment to historical content in the classroom, and more likely to feel a social disconnect from their peers. All of these factors increasingly add to the achievement gap in schools across the United States. The following paper includes multiple examples of research surrounding this issue, as well as a potential start to a solution. This step includes education and awareness, specifically to educators that work with students of color in classrooms across the United States. The fact that this gap is increasing, instead of decreasing, should be a wake-up call to educators. It should be our job as teachers to support every kid academically, and by allowing this gap to persist, we are doing a disservice to a large percentage of our nation’s children.
ScholarWorks Citation
Kuik, Mary, "The Link Between Classroom Diversity and Academic Advancements" (2024). Culminating Experience Projects. 459.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/gradprojects/459
