COVID-19 effects on NYC educational systems in low socioeconomic urban environments

CLOSING THE RACIAL ACHIEVEMENT GAP IN NYC SCHOOLS

Education experts say race, income, and school location affect student outcomes. New York City schools mirror the neighborhoods in which they serve and many are still populated predominantly by families of one racial group or another, according to Raymond Domanico, director of Education Policy at the Manhattan Institute, writing in 2018 in “Closing the Racial Achievement Gap in NYC Schools.” Neighborhoods that are located in low socioeconomic areas affect the resources that the schools in those areas have to support student learning.

One such school is the Fresh Creek Elementary School in East New York, Brooklyn. East New York is predominantly inhabited by African-Americans and Latinos. According to Fresh Creek teacher Jessie Fields, “This community is underfunded, and there are barriers such as family situations and trauma that the kids bring with them to school. Issues that some adults have not even faced.” These barriers raised by this 20-year teacher, who commutes an hour to her school, are long-standing barriers that interfere with student learning.

Ricardo Fortuney, the parent of two students who attend Fresh Creek School, said, “It’s very hard right now. I don’t have much money, and it’s hard to teach my kids when I am not a teacher. It’s just so hard. My youngest kid was doing better with his reading now he is slipping and I don’t know what to do.”

Researchers (Domanico 2018) discuss the relationship between test scores and student race. The below graph shows the disparity in 259 middle schools in New York City. Asian and white students were twice as likely to score proficient compared to black and Hispanic students. In terms of Level 4 proficiency, there were greater gaps showing 50% of white and Asian students falling into the highest category as opposed to Black student with 18% falling into the level 4 category.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention points out that inequities in access to high-quality education for some racial and ethnic minority groups can lead to lower high school completion rates and barriers to college entrance. The devastating effects of inequities continue to plague the NYC school system with another deadly complicated layer that is contributing to the achievement gap, COVID-19.

The terms “racial and ethnic minority groups” when referred to in this article includes people of color with a variety of backgrounds and experiences, including Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). 

These disparities and barriers that have historically existed have been exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While test scores, race, and barriers are intertwined and widen the achievement gap.  COVID-19’s effects on NYC educational systems in low socioeconomic urban environments have created an additional barrier and have exacerbated the achievement gap.

This article seeks to explore this racial economic divide. Principal Lisa Goodson discusses the digital divide being one example of economic hardship that students of color face.

Lisa Goodson, principal of the Fresh Creek School, said “We are aware of the digital divide that exists and the fact that the majority of our students lack the technology needed to engage in remote learning. Which is why our school has issued over 100 laptops for students to bring home to support them in engaging in student learning.”

Richard Carranza, who served as chancellor of New York City Schools from 2018 to 2021, said he believes greater device support is needed for remote learning and urges principals to work with their staffs to make sure that families are supported with devices.

Given the disproportionate socioeconomic changes that were caused by the pandemic, education officials expect the COVID-19 crisis will continue to widen the U.S. racial achievement gap in schools.

Carranza makes safety a priority as school re-opening is around the corner. How will this school close the pervasive achievement gap while managing safety concerns?