The Education Trust releases an update on the ongoing barriers Black and Latino students face in accessing advanced coursework opportunities.
“The truth is that Black and Latino students are not receiving these opportunities for reasons that have everything to do with policies, adult decisions, and practices and little to do with students’ academic abilities. This paper and the accompanying state data tool tell that story”
The Education Trust has released a new report that highlights the ongoing barriers that Black and Latino students face in accessing advanced coursework opportunities. The report has six clear and distinct findings on this issue. They include the following:
Finding 1
Black and Latino students are successful in advanced courses when given the opportunity.
Finding 2
While it is clear Black and Latino students are often successful in advanced coursework opportunities, they are still not fairly represented in advanced courses.
Finding 3
Nationally, inequities are largely due to (1) schools that serve mostly Black and Latino students not enrolling as many students in advanced classes as schools that serve fewer Black and Latino students; and (2) schools – especially racially diverse schools – denying Black and Latino students access to those courses.
Finding 3a
Courses Offered: Nationally, Black and Latino students are fairly represented among schools that offer advanced courses. But there are still too many schools that don’t offer the courses at all.
Finding 3b
Total Seats: The schools that enroll the most Black and Latino students have slightly fewer students enrolled overall in advanced courses that schools that serve fewer Black and Latino students.
Finding 3c
Share of Seats: Among schools that offer advanced courses, Black and Latino students are often denied access to those courses. This is especially true in racially diverse schools.