Dive Brief:
- A new report from the University of California-Davis found that Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) was able to minimize the achievement gap by offering targeted elective courses.
- In 2010, the district created the Manhood Development Program (MDP), which offers elective courses for black males, and according to the report, the program has helped improve school culture while reducing the achievement gap.
- Since the program was created, the suspension rate for black males has gone down while the graduation rate has increased, with students even seeing an increase in their GPAs.
Dive Insight:
The news comes on the heels of the Schott Foundation's "Black Lives Matter" report, which found discrepancies in the academic outcomes of black youth versus their white counterparts. While the report is important in shedding light on inequity and areas that need improvement, examples like Oakland Unified bring us closer to finding solutions to these issues.
Unfortunately, arts programs and electives are not offered in many low-income schools, which typically have some of the lowest scores and high numbers of minority students, as they have been booted either because of tight budgets or a desire to place strict emphasis on test prep. The MDP results show why reinvesting in the arts can have great benefits.
