I’ve argued that one reason racial preferences exist is the academic achievement gaps between the races. The government has been trying for years to close the gap, or at least to narrow it. School choice has been floated as one possible solution to narrowing the gap. In Florida, school choice gets credit for narrowing the reading achievement gap among 4th and 8th graders.
According to the Heritage Foundation, minority students in the Sunshine State made progress, based on the 2009 reading results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Hispanic students exceed or tie the statewide average of all students in 30 states, and black students exceed or tie the statewide average for students in eight states. An excerpt:
In 1998, Florida’s black students fell far behind even the lowest statewide averages. Now these students have pulled even with some states, and they have the momentum.
How did Florida do it? Florida’s success has resulted from the commonsense reforms that were implemented during Jeb Bush’s tenure as governor.
One of the key reforms involved increasing parental control in education. Florida families enjoy more educational options than those in any other state. Florida lawmakers have created one of the nation’s strongest charter-school laws, a voucher program for special-needs students, and the nation’s largest tax-credit program. Florida also leads the nation in online education options.
Do factors like school choice and “rigorous state standards and assessments” hold the key to reducing the achievement gap?
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