The Puzzling Case of Asian/White Gaps in Early STEM Skills

• In Event: Young Children's STEM Learning and Development

Abstract

Previous research has recognized the importance of racial disparities in reading and math achievement while little is known about early science. This paper utilizes the ECLSK: 2011 to provide an up-to-date examination of racial achievement gaps in science during the first two years of school. Large gaps were found among Black, Hispanic and Asian students relative to whites. Family characteristics and school quality can explain some, but not all, of the racial science gap. From kindergarten to the 1st grade, Hispanic-White gap and Asian-White gap in science have decreased, but the black-white science gap does not change much.

Authors

• Wei Wang, University of California - Irvine

• Greg Duncan, University of California - Irvine