The achievement gap phenomenon: a practical application of modeling & simulation

The academic achievement gap is a persistent phenomenon in U.S. education system despite a long history of efforts and billions of dollars spent to correct it. Literature abounds with theories about why the gap exist, such as: student self-perception, parent involvement, teacher quality, and others. Model based approaches have been used to understand various aspects of the phenomenon. However, no models were identified that consider a comprehensive set of theories, and is specifically designed to investigate potential policies and strategies for reducing the gap. We build such a model using a methodology that includes: a) Modeling and Simulation-System Development Framework (MS-SDF); b) Systems Modeling Language (SysML); and c) a Systems Dynamics approach. Preliminary findings indicate that concepts from prevailing theories about the achievement gap can be accurately represented in a single system dynamics model. We also identify key stakeholders, functions, and variables affecting the achievement gap.