It is with sadness that I read your article about the achievement gap at DPS.  As an educator, and as a reading volunteer with DPS- having worked with “at risk” students, I can tell you that DPS will not be able to do anything about remedying the achievement gap. This is because the problem is not with the schools.  The problem lies with the families that these children come from. Three things are necessary to close the “gap.” 1) All children need to be read to every night beginning at age 6 months. 2) Their parents need to instill in them, beginning at a very young age, the value of education. 3) The father needs to be present in the child’s life, both financially and consistently “in person;” even if he is not living in the household with the family. Until these requirements are met, the “gap” will continue to grow wider- no matter what the school district does. A school is a school and cannot be expected, nor is equipped, to do the job of the parents.

Tony V. Uva