We can close the achievement gap by addressing the belief gap
I was first introduced to the notion of the “belief gap” while attending the annual symposium of the Carlston Family Foundation back in 2016. The concept was presented to us, the foundation’s “Outstanding Teachers of America”, through a student centered article published by EdSource which clearly articulated a child’s innate ability to know when a teacher believes in their assets, abilities, and potential. This point of view hit me like a ton of bricks. Here I was, in a room full of celebrated and accomplished teachers, trying to figure out what I had done to be considered their equal, and there was the answer. I fully, and unapologetically, believed in the limitless potential of my students- and they could feel it. That was the secret sauce, the common bond, of every other teacher at that event. Regardless of the subject matter taught, our city of residence, student demographics in our school- we all shamelessly believed in each and every one of our students, and it was palpable.
“We have a positive vision of the future founded on the belief that the gap between the promise and reality of America can one day by finally closed. We believe that.”
- Barbara Jordan
The culture, vibe, and environment of the school system a student is educated within impacts everyone, not just the marginalized. Just like an English learner or African American student might feel the sting of the “soft bigotry of low expectations” when they are denied access to rigorous courses, equal impressions are made on the student who earned entry simply based on the color of their skin, their parents income bracket, or their zip code. In other words, irreparable harm is being done on both ends of the spectrum.
It is inexcusable for education, as the institution necessary to produce adults able to fully participate in democracy, to claim a commitment to equality when so much of the society that these students are raised in is fundamentally unequal. This is why equity needs to be used to level the playing field, which means placing students with urgent needs as both a moral and fiscal priority on an interpersonal and systemic level.
Yet educational equity will never be realized, or even attempted, if first we do not address the elephant in the room- the belief gap. It is not until all stakeholders- teachers, administrators, elected leaders, parents, community members, voters alike- all believe in the potential of each and every student. Without that unwavering belief, our attempts at equity and educational justice are in vain.
At the Language Institute we proved believing in students, and then supporting them along their unique journey, can produce astonishing results.
Closing the belief gap was how students who arrived not knowing the Roman alphabet graduated, just three or four years later, reading at grade level and university eligible.
Closing the belief gap was how teenagers with no formal education or literacy in their native language were empowered to value education and the impact a growth mindset would have on their entire lives, even though they had so much to overcome.
Closing the belief gap was how these newcomer students entered mainstream classes and inspired veteran teachers to reflect and realize they’d underestimated their potential, and possibly countless others like them, and then vow to never allow that barrier of perception to exist going forward.
