Educators in other districts offered similar explanations.
Kevin Welner, the director of the Education Public Interest Center at the University of Colorado, said the achievement gaps can be traced to a number of factors, including home environment and the schools themselves.
``The one thing we know is that it's absolutely a combination,'' he said.
Singleton, the Pacific Educational Group consultant, said school districts often ignore the role of race in performance gaps and instead point to students' socio-economic status, mobility and language issues or a lack of parental support.
``We have to be able to change the nature of this conversation,'' Singleton said. ``How can you take credit for the kids who are successful but not take responsibility for kids who are not?''
—Associated Press
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