The Homeschool Resource Center endorses Tina Certain
for School Board of Alachua County.
Alachua County has the largest racial achievement gap and fourth highest out of school suspension rate for Black students of all Florida school districts. Only 26.7% of Black students as compared with 71.5% of White students in Alachua County scored at or above grade level in English Language Arts on the Florida State Assessment (FSA) (FLDOE, 2018a). Schools with magnet programs have a 66.8% achievement gap between Black and White students in ELA (SBAC, 2017; FLDOE, 2018b). Black students comprise 35.5% of school population but account for 70.6% of district suspensions (FLDOE 2018b; FLDOE, 2018c). References are listed at the bottom of this page.
The Education Task Force formed to address this critical issue. The following is a poster presentation of ETF research presented at the UF College of Education’s Research Symposium, Critical Collaboration in Times of Controversy. Below the poster are documents relating to the racial achievement gap in Alachua County.
Poster presented by Sunshine Moss and Tina Certain at the UF College of Education Research Symposium. Research conducted by Drs. Anne Koterba and Diedre Houchen of the Education Task Force.
Gainesville for All – Education Committee
Website outlining the work of and priorities set by the Gainesville for All Education Committee. Gainesville For All was formed to address racial and economic inequities that hurt people and hinder our community from achieving its best potential. It is an initiative of The Gainesville Sun in partnership with the Community Foundation of North Central Florida.
Education Task Force Presentation
Presentation by Education Task Force, January 2017
School Board of Alachua County Equity Plan: DRAFT
Presented to the board and community on Tuesday, August 14th. Public input is needed.
School Board of Alachua County Equity Plan Workshop
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Public Comments begin at timestamp 1:50
Dr. Diedre Houchen addresses community at timestamp 1:58
Sunshine Moss addresses board at timestamp 2:10
In the News
Alachua County Schools Gets ‘A’ in Early School Rankings
February 12, 2016 – Gainesville Sun
Alachua County Schools Earn Passing Grades
June 28, 2017 – Gainesville Sun
Disparity Study Alachua County Blacks Face Bigger Hurdles
January 13, 2018 – Gainesville Sun
Alachua County Schools Attacking Achievement Gap with Equity Plan
Thursday, July 5, 2018 – CBS News
Dr. Diedre Houchin: What Does Educational Equity Really Mean?
August 24, 2018 –Gainesville Sun
References
Florida Department of Education (2018a). FSA English language arts (ELA): Report by subgroup. [Data file]. Retrieved from https://edstats.fldoe.org/SASWebReportStudio/gotoReportSection.do?sectionNumber=2
Florida Department of Education. (2018b). Student enrollment. [Data file]. Retrieved from https://edstats.fldoe.org
School Board of Alachua County. (2017). Magnet programs and enrollment disaggregated by race. Report prepared for public records request. Alachua County, Florida.
Florida Department of Education (2018c). Student discipline data by race and gender: State and district level 2015-2016. [Data file]. Retrieved from http://www.fldoe.org/accountability/data-sys/edu-info-accountability-services/pk-12-public-school-data-pubs-reports/students.stml.
The Homeschool Resource Center 