The Anatomy of Achievement Gaps: Why and How American Education is Losing (but can still Win) the War on Underachievement

by Jaekyung Lee

Overview

The Anatomy of Achievement Gaps offers a critical analysis of underachievement problems in American education from interdisciplinary, international, and systems perspectives. The book has several aims: to build a new model of achievement gap research and policy; to provide evidence on the state and alterability of achievement gaps; to synthesize separate lines of domestic and international achievement gap research; and to evaluate and inform American P-16 (pre-school through college) education policies.

In light of socioeconomic changes and educational paradigm shifts, Jaekyung Lee extends the scope of analysis from a K-12 to a P-16 education pipeline and from domestic racial/social groups to international groups, with focus on the case of South Korea. Through multilevel and longitudinal analyses of U.S. national and international datasets, The Anatomy of Achievement Gaps provides new evidence on the status and trends of achievement gaps, causes of these gaps, and the effects of policy interventions. In an effort to evaluate the nation's strengths and weaknesses across the P-16 education pipeline, it draws upon a wide range of educational data sources and indicators. Featuring cross-cultural perspectives beyond the U.S., Lee reframes achievement gap and educational accountability issues.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780190217648
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	12/17/2015
Pages:	456
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Jaekyung Lee is Dean of the Graduate School of Education at the University at Buffalo. He has a Ph.D. in education from the University of Chicago. He is a fellow of American Educational Research Association, a fellow of the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, and he is the recipient of the 2007 AERA Early Career Award. His research focuses on educational policy evaluation and international comparative education.

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

Part I. Excellence

1. Growth Curve: Achievement Trajectories and College Pathways

2. Education Battle: Trends of Academic Achievement and Educational Environment

Part II. Equity

3. Bell Curve: Achievement and Environment Gaps Among Racial and Ethnic Groups

4. Tug of War: Trends of Racial and Ethnic Gaps in Achievement and Environment

Part III. Accountability

5. Raising the Bar: Input-Driven Accountability Policies and Achievement Outcomes

6. High-stakes Testing: Performance-Driven Accountability Policies and Achievement Outcomes

Part IV. Globality

7. Brain Race: International Achievement Gaps and Educational Deficits

8. Balancing Act: International Policy Benchmarking and Education Reforms

9. Conclusion

Appendices A-L

References

Index

Editorial Reviews

"The Anatomy of Achievement Gaps is an impressive and highly authoritative source on the knowledge base and evidence for improving student achievement generally, and reducing underachievement of students from all social and economic backgrounds." —Henry M. Levin, William H. Kilpatrick Professor of Economics & Education, Teachers College, Columbia University

"The Anatomy of Achievement Gaps is a refreshing and comprehensive analysis of the underlying causes and subsequent consequences of the persisting achievement gap in America's schools. Professor Lee's analyses are deeply penetrating and lead to optimistic insights into what can be done to reduce underachievement. This volume offers extensive real evidence drawn from around the world that is understandable to concerned citizens and policy makers as well as to those with specialized training in the social sciences. This is a must read for all who are concerned with equity and productivity issues in schools."
—David H. Monk, Dean, College of Education, Penn State University

From the Publisher