Recommended Reading

Closing the Achievement Gap: A Vision for Changing Beliefs and Practices
Edited by Belinda Williams
ASCD, 1996
ISBN: 0871202735

This is an extremely useful and timely collection of chapters commissioned by the Urban Education National Network to:

• Define the nature of obstacles to urban academic performance. We must clarify deterrents to the development of urban lifelong learning such as the lack of curriculum relevance and authenticity, and describe supportive environments, appropriate staff development, and meaningful instruction and assessments for urban students.
• Identify validate, and disseminate a knowledge base of theory and practice that will better inform decision making relevant to overcoming these performance obstacles.

The book addresses the nature of the achievement gap; how urban schools can bridge it; cultural values in learning and education; educating teachers to close the achievement gap; appropriate learning opportunities, standards and assessment; fostering resiliency in urban schools; how to catalyze teacher engagement and real reforms; and designing a social vision for urban education.

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This article is in the public domain and can be freely copied and used in trainings as handouts at parent and community meetings, and in creating your school or district programs. (Please cite all sources of materials you use.)

This information is provided by:
Office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Special Education
P O Box 47200
Olympia, WA 98504-7200
(360) 725-6088
Fax (360)586-1631
E-mail: dgill@ospi.wednet.edu