NMSI CEO Matthew Randazzo on the Civil Rights Data Collection Survey results
June 8, 2016
Yesterday, the U.S. Education Department released its 2013-2014 Civil Rights Data Collection survey results, covering more than 95,000 schools and 50 million students. Among the results:
Black and Latino students make up 38 percent of those enrolled at schools that offer AP courses — but less than a third of students taking AP courses. Similar disparities were found in advanced math and science courses like chemistry, physics, algebra II and calculus.
“The Education Department’s 2013-2014 Civil Rights Data Collection survey results, released yesterday, aren’t just disappointing—they should make us queasy. Among the most startling inequities, Black and Latino students make up less than one third of the students taking AP courses,” said Matthew Randazzo, CEO of NMSI. “AP is one of the best tools we have for preparing students for college-level work. African American and Latino students who succeed in AP courses are four times more likely to graduate from college. Data like this is a gift only if we use it to effect real change in the way we approach our most important job, preparing our kids for the future.”
To learn more, access the story on NPR or click here to see the full survey results on the U.S. Department of Education website.