Black parents more likely to worry & take action when children's test scores are lower than expected.

A recent Gallup-Learning Heroes study has revealed that Black parents are more likely to act if their children were to perform poorly on math test scores. The research supports that the academic achievements of students of color are lower than other groups.

When parents can consider information beyond report card grades, including data from various standardized tests, they have a more complete picture of their child’s academic progress. According to the study's results, nearly three-quarters of Black parents reported that they would be “extremely or very concerned” about the low performance, compared to Hispanic and white parents.

In response, Black parents reported a higher likelihood to “definitely” take action than the national average of parents. For instance, 81% said they would advocate support with teachers, and 80% said they would inquire about their child’s math grade level status. On the other hand, 57% of Black parents reported they would access free online learning resources to help their children, 25% would get an in-school tutor, and 17% would prefer a private tutor.

The report also considered that standardized tests have been under deep study and controversy for their racial and cultural biases against mainly Black and Hispanic students. This note highlights its impact on the perceived learning gap and limits performance-based opportunities for students of color.

National assessment data indicate a significant decline in math scores for Black 13-year-olds than white 13-year-olds between the 2019-2020 and 2022-2023 school years. As the performance perception is widest among students of color, Gallup suggested parents evaluate their child’s performance using data from standardized tests, year-end tests, and other exams to “fully understand their child’s achievement.”

The study reveals the importance of parents being informed about their child’s academic challenges in order to engage with teachers and schools to support their child’s development. It is essential to help bridge the gap between parents’ perceptions of their child's performance and their actual academic progress.

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