Unequal Access to Advance Courses Hinders Idaho’s Latino Students
February 22, 2020
Despite some modest improvements since Idaho “implemented a new accountability system under the Every Student Succeeds Act,” Latino students across the state “have unequal representation in Advanced Placement classes, advanced math in junior high and especially in elementary school gifted and talented programs,” according to a nationwide comparison by Education Trust. Despite making up 19 percent of elementary school students, only 6 percent of students enrolled in gifted programs are Latino. According to Kris Rodine with the Idaho State Department of Education, “Our accountability system focuses on the need to continue to improve participation in advanced courses and opportunities for Latino students…and we have made significant improvements on that front.”