Ranger from the North

When it comes to law enforcement, the government's duty (among things) is to arrest and prosecute those who commit crimes. It should do so without regard to race. Absent evidence of discriminatory policing practices (and Tan presents none for Montgomery County or anywhere else), it should be a matter of indifference to the government whether fulfilling this responsibility means disproportionately more criminal convictions for members of a particular race.

When it comes to student achievement scores, the government's duty is to provide all students who attend its schools with quality instruction, without regard to race. If the government fulfills this duty but students of one race outperform students of another race, it's not the government's fault. No special measures need be taken to reduce the gap, although reasonable measures to address it are commendable as long as they don't lower standards or come at the expense of non-low achievers.

The remedy for an achievement gap is for those who are achieving less to do what it takes to achieve more. As long as the government isn't blocking anyone's achievement, and (if the gap is racial) isn't discriminating on the basis of race, it has no responsibility to reduce the gap. Nor, as the title of the Post's article concedes, is there much it can do to reduce the gap — other than perhaps to dumb things down and tolerate misconduct.