A basic cause of race-based achievement gaps is:

• A. Equal distribution of resources
• B. Unequal distribution of resources
• C. Student innate ability differences
• D. Language only

Answer: (B)

Access to resources shapes what students can do in school. When things like qualified teachers, safe classrooms, stable housing, nutritious meals, and learning materials are distributed unevenly, students in under-resourced communities face more barriers to learning, which shows up as lower achievement. Race-based achievement gaps arise from these structural resource inequities, not from inherent differences in ability. That’s why unequal distribution of resources is the best explanation. If resources were spread more evenly, gaps would narrow; innate ability differences or language alone don’t account for the broad patterns we see.