Vision-Shapers-Title 1

After more than 20 years working in unison with the residents of East Garfield Park, Breakthrough’s “people first” focus has helped unify the community. With experts in workforce development, violence prevention, education and more, our work and service has benefitted from the leadership that drives our teams and staff on the front lines doing the work.
Our Vision Shapers series highlights expertise from Breakthrough leadership on issues impacting our community and work.

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THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP

The achievement gap is a term used to describe the disparity in standardized academic performance that exists between groups of students. Most often, this gap exists between the wealthy and impoverished, white students and students of color, and in some cases, between males and females. Scores from the ACT show that just 9 percent of students in the class of 2017 who came from low-income families, whose parents did not go to college, and who identify as black, Hispanic, American Indian, or Pacific Islander are ready for college. The readiness rate for other students was six times as high at 54%.

People frequently debate the root causes of the achievement gap. Some believe that the gap is purely related to socioeconomic factors. Others argue that the lack of opportunity has been the biggest contributor. Still others reference systemic racist policies that have disadvantaged some groups while advantaging others. We also must consider the cultural mismatch between the predominantly white, mono-lingual, female teaching force (81.9%) with the ever growing ethnically diverse student population (49%). There is merit to all these arguments. However, regardless of the causes, the fact that we live in a country where this gap continues is troubling.

The responsibility to close the achievement gap rests on many levels. It will require action by national, state, and local governmental entities, corporations, individual citizens, and concerned parents. We all have a responsibility to work to ensure children have the opportunity to succeed. I have made it my life’s mission to strive toward closing the achievement gap in East Garfield Park.

innovative strategy closes achievement gap

[bctt tweet=”To truly address the achievement gap, we need to address its root causes.” username=”brkthru”]

MULTI-FACETED APPROACH

There are 6,140 individuals under the age of 18 in East Garfield Park; this makes up 30% of the community. Along with committed parents, resilient students, dedicated school personnel, partner universities, and other non-profits, Breakthrough is working to bring additional resources and relationships to attack the achievement gap. In spaces once considered devoid of opportunity, we plan to create more. We have a two-pronged approach to closing the achievement gap and reducing the opportunity gaps that exists for children in East Garfield Park. This includes providing high quality direct education services and a youth development strategy that we call the Network Model.

Breakthrough provides direct education opportunities for students ages 2-18, which includes year-round preschool and afterschool education. We also provide a robust menu of extracurricular opportunities. Extracurricular activities have been linked with increasing academic achievement and lowering participation in risky behaviors, but many are cost prohibitive. Greg Duncan, an economist at the University of California Irvine, estimates that families earning $25,000 a year spend roughly $1,300 per child per year on summer camp, vacations, outings, and educational programming; whereas families earning $135,000 year spend almost 10 times that amount.

LONG-TERM STRATEGY

To address the achievement gap long term, Breakthrough is working to counter generational poverty that exists in the community. Studies have shown that the more education one earns, the higher his or her earning power will be. In fact, a person with a Bachelor’s degree will earn approximately 60% more than someone with only a high school diploma. Breakthrough’s generational approach begins in our early childhood education program, the Breakthrough Beginners, because the achievement gap is already well established by time a student enters kindergarten. We partner with families early on to meet the cognitive, social, and physical milestones that their children will need to achieve at high levels throughout their lives. As students move through our programs and onto college, we expect that they will be better prepared and resourced because of their time spent at Breakthrough.

Last year alone, we served just over 1,200 youth participants through our programs. 76% of students either maintained or improved to above average scores in reading, 85% reported supportive relationships with adult staff and volunteers they met at Breakthrough, 100% of students reported an increase in knowledge of STEAM careers, and 94% of preschoolers are prepared for kindergarten. These successes are chipping away at the achievement gap in the community.

innovative strategy closes achievement gap

NETWORK MODEL

Most recently, we have begun to support our students as they transition to college. This year, in partnership with two foundations, we awarded $30,000 in college scholarships and hosted a community trunk party for 54 local rising college freshmen. By the year 2020, we anticipate our high school and college programming will be more robust to meet the growing need.

Breakthrough’s direct programs would not be effective without a thoughtful and relevant strategy behind them. Therefore, Breakthrough has developed and implemented an innovative approach to build social capital for students in East Garfield Park. We do this through what we call the Network Model and is the second method we use to close the achievement gap.

The Network Model connects youth with caring adults to provide mentorship, access, exposure and accountability as they navigate life. Our model not only surrounds students with support and care, but also opens doors of opportunity and provides access to resources that students might not have had otherwise. These caring adults impact students in a variety of ways – as an industry professional who is exposing students to new career fields, such as robotics; as a mentor who encourages a student through trauma; as a running partner who challenges a student to accomplish a personal fitness goal; as a homework helper who provides reading interventions; or as an artist who helps a student express ideas creatively. Through the Network Model, students have more access and opportunity than ever before.

innovative strategy closes achievement gap

ROOT CAUSES

To truly address the achievement gap, we need to address its root causes – discriminatory policies, poverty, insufficient opportunities, and cultural mismatches between kids and their teachers/mentors. The work will not be accomplished in my lifetime, but we all must do our part. We never want a student in East Garfield Park to be limited in life because of a lack of opportunity and access. We never want a student in East Garfield Park to weather the storms of life without supportive relationships. In this community, we reject the continuation of generational poverty and in its place, strive for prosperity for all who call this neighborhood home.