Report of the Task Force on the Education of Maryland's African-American Males
Author: Maryland State Department of Education
Date: 2007-03-06
Type: Reports - Evaluative
Subjects: Minority Groups,Males,African American Education,African American Students,Educational Assessment,Educational Indicators,Teacher Competencies,Teacher Effectiveness,Minority Group Teachers,Educational Opportunities,Disproportionate Representation,Teacher Education,Academic Standards,Intervention,Prevention,School Health Services,Correctional Education,Child Care,Student Needs,Family Programs,Single Sex Classes,Mentors,Culturally Relevant Education,Advanced Placement,College Preparation,Student Financial Aid,Equal Education,At Risk Students,Racial Differences,Achievement Gap,Academic Achievement,Interdisciplinary Approach,Educational Practices,Educational Improvement,Expectation,Boards of Education,Suspension,Fathers,Educational Administration,School Districts,Criminals

In 1993, the Governor's Commission on Black Males, chaired by then Delegate Elijah E. Cummings, issued a report that studied the conditions of African-American males in Maryland as they related to employment, health conditions, criminal justice, and education. The Commission provided a &quot;snapshot of the plight of the black males in Maryland.&quot; In the ensuing years, a number of state and local agencies have implemented initiatives to address the issues and recommendations contained within the original report. In 1998, the Maryland State Department of Education--through its Maryland's Achievement Initiative for Maryland's Minority Students (AIMMS)--produced a report entitled &quot;Minority Achievement in Maryland: The State of the State.&quot; A second report, with expanded analysis and additional recommendations, was published in January 2001 by AIMMS. The two reports clearly--and without ambiguity--provided information indicating that many of the factors identified in the 1993 document persist today. While both the 1998 and 2001 reports dealt with education performance for &quot;all&quot; students, the disaggregation of the information once again points to serious and continuing problems concerning the education and development of Maryland's African-American boys and young men. Therefore, on the 10th anniversary of the &quot;Report of the Governor's Commission on Black Males&quot;, Maryland's K-16 Leadership Council established a Blue Ribbon Task Force, the Task Force on the Education of Maryland's African-American Males, to evaluate and report on the State's efforts and progress to address the continuing school performance and educational achievement problems that so seriously imperil the future of many African-American males. In fulfilling its task, the Task Force on the Education of African-American Males will review current research and effective interdisciplinary practices from both within the State and across the nation concerning the improvement of the education of African-American males so that its recommendations are scientifically based and supported by solid research and effective practices. This paper presents the recommendations made by the Task Force. Individual sections contain footnotes.