Poverty not to blame for gap 

The gaps between black and white students who score proficient or advanced on the California Standards Tests are actually larger among students who are not economically disadvantaged. On the 2008 math test, among nondisadvantaged students, 13 percent more white students than black scored proficient or better in second grade, but the proficiency gap was 28 percent between blacks and whites in seventh grade. Among economically disadvantaged students, however, the proficiency gap of 18 percent in second grade remained at that level in grade 7. Thus, the achievement gap between black and white students increased more among students who do not live in poverty, which some equity educators say supports the claim that racism is at play.

—Kristi Garrett