Black-white test score gaps narrow a bit

WASHINGTON, July 15 (UPI) -- Modest progress has been made narrowing the math and reading achievement gaps between black and white students in U.S. schools, a study indicates.

The results of the 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress, issued Tuesday, showed, however, the black-white divide varies from state to state, with some states showing black students closing the gap significantly while others showed little progress.

The study found that, on average, white students had higher scores than black students on all assessments. While the nationwide gaps were narrower than in previous assessments at both grades 4 and 8 in mathematics and at grade 4 in reading, white students had average scores at least 26 points higher than black students in each subject, on a 0-500 scale.

The biggest gaps were in the Southern states, but that is also where the most progress has been made, while in some Northern states, the narrowing of the achievement gaps has slowed or even reversed, The New York Times reported.

"This report makes clear that schools matter and when schools serving children of color are primarily staffed by less experienced, less effective teachers, the effects are tragic," U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said.