Who cares about standardized tests anyway? -- African American past and the impact on reading: from Africa to America -- Let's get technical: what are the scores of African Americans on standardized tests? -- What causes these score differences? -- Literacy and the criminal justice system -- Profiles of African American examinees who excelled above the mean -- Using common sense -- What can we do? It may take a village -- Community projects and resources that promote reading -- Final thoughts
Summary
This volume postulates that a lack of reading experiences in the African American household is the true cause of low scores on today's standardized tests. The discussion stresses the significance of literacy in a child's future and the importance of parental involvement toward shaping that future. In an educational climate where most of the blame for a child's poor performance is placed upon the teachers, the curricula, and the social structure of the schools, this discussion ultimately places the responsibility back in the hands of the family and offers them suggestions for improvement
