The Relationship Between Parent Education & Test Scores Kelsey McKim A recent study by duPont Manual High

School student Kelsey McKim revealed a correlation between parents educational attainment and their childrens standardized test scores. While the cause of the achievement gap (the sometimes wide difference in test scores from school to school) has not been identified in Louisvilles high schools, this correlation could be part of the explanation. The study showed that schools with fewer educated adults (a lower percentage of adults 25 years of age or older with at least a high school diploma) in their resides areas had noticeably lower standardized test scores (the test data used in the study was the KCCT total academic index, or the average of various subjects core content assessments) than those with a more educated resides area. This information could greatly affect the student assignment plans currently being drafted for both the middle and high school levels, making parent education a factor to be considered along with socioeconomic status, race, and others in the placement of students. The study was conducted by comparing United States 2000 Census data with the Louisville high school boundaries map. Average percentages of adult education attainment were compiled for each Jefferson County non-magnet high school by calculating the average level of attainment in each high schools drawing area. The areas used for each piece of location data (or the units for the area data in the study) were Census tracts. This educational attainment data was then compared to both KCCT and ACT Index scores for each nonmagnet high school, and correlation relationships were calculated. The study has some margin of error due to the varying sizes of Census tracts in different parts of the city (larger Census tracts in the outer areas of the county, and smaller ones in the more central zones), as well as the nonconformity between Census tracts and school boundary lines. How can a parents educational attainment affect their childs test scores? Louisville Free Public Library Manager of Branch Libraries Lisa Sizemore may have the answer. Those results are not really a surprise to me. We [the library] have done studies and research on this topic, and weve found that parent education is usually very important. The Librarys research found that the children of actively-engaging parents, especially activelyengaging mothers, start kindergarten with larger vocabularies than children with lessengaging parents. This is often related to the education or confidence of the parent. Sizemore said. Similarly, kids who struggle with reading often havent been read to as children. This can form the distinction between reading being a struggle or an enjoyable activity. These factors, reading and vocabulary, could be important ones in getting started on the right foot for a successful academic career. McKims study found the correlation between parent educational attainment and both KCCT Index Scores & ACT Index Scores to be between 59 and 60%. This is a fairly strong correlation, and if further evidence is found that supports this link between parent educational achievement and test scores, the new student assignment plan could very well be modified so that a greater emphasis is placed on parent educational achievement than the other factors. This could affect the placement of many students in different high schools, as well as their parents, teachers, and administrators. The new student assignment plans are scheduled to go into effect (for high schools) in the next couple of years. The current plan, based mainly on race to diversify high schools, will be gradually phased out by a new plan based mainly on diversification of students with

varying socioeconomic backgrounds. The new plan, according to Jefferson County Teachers Association president Brent McKim will include three equal factors for each student: parent income, parent educational attainment, and race. These factors are combined to find a socioeconomic level for each student, and, accordingly, for each school. If the policymakers keep the studys findings in mind while finalizing these plans, the parent educational attainment category could be given more weight, making it more important than the other two factors. Louisville is currently implementing a policy, called restructuring or auditing of schools, that attempts to raise the test scores of the six lowest-achieving schools by removing half of their teachers. This connection between parent educational attainment and the achievement gap could have major consequences in terms of this policy, such as fundamental revisions of its policy, if not its complete rewrite/removal. However, Jefferson County resource teacher Jo Bell said, Although I think these results should have an effect on the policy, I dont think that they would in practice. When asked what steps should be taken to help students that may be scoring lower on tests, or not doing well in school because of their parents educational attainment, Sizemore and Bell agreed that the key lies in partnership across the board. Steps should be taken early on in the students lives, Bell said, Its about changing a cultureif education hasnt been prevalent in the family or community, then its probably not a part of a kids norm. Its about creating a desire for further education in the students. This requires a partnership between the schools, community, and parents. Sizemore agreed. The library can definitely help, but its a bigger problem than just the library or the school system can tackle. The expectation for each child to graduate high school needs to be present in the community as well, she said. However, tests are not the best educational tools, according to Iroquois High School drama teacher Terrilyn Fleming. Especially with the economy what it is right now, schools are very concerned with test scores, because thats how they get their funding. They arent always thinking of the student, but the students scores, she said. Getting test success isnt the same as getting a generally successful education, and thats the most important goal.