Achievement gap in schools getting worse

The achievement gap between black and white students in the Indian River County School District is getting worse, not better, according to 2016-17 Florida Standards Assessment data released by the district.

Meanwhile, a proposed African American Achievement Plan the district has been working on to remedy the gap – as required by a desegregation order in effect since 1967 – remains stalled.

Dr. Jacqueline Warrior, local-chapter NAACP education chairperson, says just getting the district to start on the incomplete plan was a struggle.

“The last two years of work on this plan have been tedious at best,” she said.

Warrior worked with Director of Elementary Education Deb Berg and Director of Secondary Programs Deborah Long on plan drafts.