Download or read book Closing the Student Achievement Gap in California s Elementary Schools a Teachers Perspective on Transformational Instructional Leadership written by Elisabeth Rosinsky and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 328 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Policymakers and educational leaders have expressed alarm regarding America's vast and growing Student Achievement Gap (SAG) problem. Although most agree that this issue deserves attention, consensus dissolves around how to resolve it. This research suggested that "closing" SAG requires an "Integrated" educational leadership approach called Transformational Instructional Leadership (TIL). TIL was empirically tested in four elementary schools from a local district undergoing Program-based school improvement/reform to address its SAG. A quantitative, one-shot, two-group, survey-based, quasi-experimental evaluation research design was used to gather teacher perceptions of their principals' TIL leadership during the improvement/reform effort. Descriptive and non-parametric inferential statistics were used to determine if in implementing the same program -- Response to Intervention (RtI), schools whose leaders were perceived to evidence greater TIL reduced their SAGs more than schools whose leaders were perceived to evidence less. While TIL factors were universally perceived as being "present" in "gap closing" schools and mostly "not present" in the "non gap closing" ones, TIL "Added" only some "Value" in closing all of these schools' SAGs over and above the "Value Added" by RtI itself. Findings such as these were interpreted to suggest that perhaps thinking and research about "Integrated" forms of educational leadership, like TIL, need to move more along Program-based, instructionally-defined lines if they are to address the Student Achievement Gap problem.
Download or read book Closing the Student Achievement Gap in California s Elementary Schools written by Kelli Hays and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study has tackled the thorny problem of closing the Student Achievement Gap (sag) in California's elementary schools. To address that problem, an "Integrated" form of educational leadership called Transformational Instructional Leadership (til), a form grounded in "best practices" of Transformational and Instructional leadership, was developed. Til was then tested using a quantitative, one-shot, two-group, survey-based, quasi-experimental, evaluation research design in four elementary schools from a local district undergoing program-based school improvement/reform to address its "gap" issues in English and Language Arts (ela). Descriptive and non-parametric inferential statistics were used to determine if in implementing the same program--Response to Intervention (RtI), schools whose leaders evidenced greater til, based on the perceptions of their Lead Teachers, reduced their SAGs more than schools whose leaders evidenced less til. Til added some "value" to the RtI program-based school improvement/reform effort to "close" these schools' ela SAGs, but not as much "value" as the RtI effort itself. The study's findings did not support the general viability of the til concept. They did support TIL's specific viability for ensuring the faithful implementation of the program-based school improvement/reform. In sum, the findings suggested that "Integrated" forms of educational leadership, like til, if they are to address the Student Achievement Gap problem, should move more along program-based, instructionally-defined lines than they have in the past. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest llc. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.].
Download or read book Changing Policies to Close the Achievement Gap written by Cynthia D. Prince and published by R&L Education. This book was released on 2004 with total page 116 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Closing the academic achievement gap is one of the most complex challenges that school system leaders face. Closing the gap became even more urgent with the enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act. For the first time, the federal government has set a deadline for closing the gap, requiring schools to bring all students to proficient levels of academic performance in twelve years. How much of the achievement gap can be attributed to what school districts themselves may be doing? What factors and conditions impede progress toward closing the achievement gap? And what can superintendents do to narrow as much of the gap as they can? These questions led to the development of this guide. In Changing Policies to Close the Achievement Gap Cynthia Prince identifies state and local policies that tend to make the achievement gap worse and describes policy changes that superintendents have made with the support of their boards to help narrow the gap. She also examines policies that aggravate the inequitable distribution of quality teachers and principals, that restrict student access to challenging coursework, and that reduce academic instruction time. Prince argues that closing the gap will require serious efforts to change these policies and other conditions that impede the ability of school districts to bring all students to high levels of performance.
Download or read book When Treating All the Kids the SAME Is the REAL Problem written by Kendra Johnson and published by Corwin Press. This book was released on 2014-10-30 with total page 193 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Empowered solutions to close the achievement gap start here! This original, solution-oriented guide for school leaders helps to serve children of color, children from low-income families, and other marginalized student groups. Practical implementation strategies and tools assist school leaders to methodically tackle the challenges of equity-driven reform and: Understand the root cause of the racial-achievement gap Take concrete actions to transform the educational process Use daily, real-time data to determine effective teaching and learning practices Includes reflective-discussion questions and case studies. Accelerate the achievement of underserved students with this transformative book!
Download or read book Creating the Opportunity to Learn written by A. Wade Boykin and published by ASCD. This book was released on 2011-09-08 with total page 246 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Unless we believe that those who have more are inherently superior to those who have less, we should be troubled by the fact that patterns of achievement are often fairly predictable, particularly with respect to students' race and class." In Creating the Opportunity to Learn, Wade Boykin and Pedro Noguera help navigate the turbid waters of evidence-based methodologies and chart a course toward closing (and eliminating) the academic achievement gap. Turning a critical eye to current and recent research, the authors present a comprehensive view of the achievement gap and advocate for strategies that contribute to the success of all children. Boykin and Noguera maintain that it is possible to close the achievement gap by abandoning failed strategies, learning from successful schools, and simply doing more of what the research shows is most effective. Success is founded on equity, but equity involves more than simply ensuring students have equal access to education; equity also entails a focus on outcomes and results. If we want to bring about significant improvements in those outcomes, we have to do more to address the context in which learning takes place. In short, we must create schools where a child's race or class is no longer a predictor for how well he or she might perform.
Download or read book Closing the Achievement Gap from an International Perspective written by Julia V. Clark and published by Springer. This book was released on 2016-08-23 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In a changing world that demands new skills, a vital concern of public education is the gap in academic performance between low- and high-achieving students. There is no excuse for the achievement gaps that persist among poor and minority students in schools today. All students can succeed at high levels, regardless of race, ethnicity and economic background. Several countries have successfully confronted inequities in achievement, demonstrating that any school can close achievement gaps regardless of the community they serve, and that all students can achieve at high levels when they are provided with the right opportunities. This book is about understanding what factors selected countries have applied to promote progress and what factors contribute to progress in the closing of achievement gaps. It is about creating opportunities for all students. Closing the Achievement Gap from an International Perspective: Transforming STEM for Effective Education is written in response to rising concern for the improvement of quality education – especially in mathematics and science – provided to all students. The contributors take a systematic view of the subject, beginning with a cross-national analysis of teacher qualifications and the achievement gap that spans 50 countries. The content of the book is organized in sections describing education around the globe: North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. Individual chapters offer close-up analysis of efforts to close achievement gaps in the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, England, Turkey, China, South Africa and Australia among many others. The contributors provide information on the achievement gap in mathematics and science, review current research, and present strategies for fostering improvement and raising performance with a focus on school-related variables that adversely affect educational outcomes among poor and minority students. The authors of the various chapters looked at how students’ data correlated with classroom practices, teacher instruction and academic programming, as part of their efforts to measure student growth. Qualitative and quantitative data are provided to provide evidence not only of the problem, but also for the solution. The book concludes with a chapter on promoting equality and equity to shrink the achievement gap worldwide.
Download or read book Learning First written by Carolyn J. Kelley and published by Corwin Press. This book was released on 2009-08-11 with total page 217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "With the spotlight on schools and the achievement of subgroups of students, educators need to read this book and reflect on the guiding questions. Then we need to take the challenge and do what we know is right so we are doubling student performance and closing achievement gaps." —Leslie Standerfer, Principal Estrella Foothills High School, Goodyear, AZ "This text is the product of considerable research and disciplined reflection on closing the student achievement gap in schools, unquestionably the most important challenge facing schools. The book offers a wealth of well-illustrated advice about how to address this challenge and should be required reading for every principal and superintendent." —Kenneth Leithwood, Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto The keys to closing achievement gaps from principals who have been there! What does it take to reach across cultural and socioeconomic barriers to bridge student achievement gaps? Drawing on five years of nationwide research, the authors present Learning First, an integrated schoolwide framework of collaborative leadership that helps school leaders advance learning for all students. Using case examples that illustrate how Learning First works in action and providing worksheets, checklists, and rubrics to support implementation, the book shows principals how to apply this field-tested model to four critical dimensions of leadership: Advancing equity and excellence in student learning Developing teachers′ instructional capacity Managing and aligning resources Building and engaging community Learning First! offers an approach that strengthens principals′ leadership skills, delineates shared goals for professional communities, and helps educators keep their eyes on the prize—closing the achievement gap in their schools.
Download or read book Closing the Achievement Gap written by Belinda Williams and published by ASCD. This book was released on 1996-10-15 with total page 214 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It's no secret that students attending urban schools in the United States do not fare as well on measures of achievement as their rural and suburban counterparts. According to Belinda Williams and her coauthors, this gap is largely due to a little acknowledged fact: that poor and minority students bring culturally distinct values and beliefs to the classroom that are often incompatible with the biases inherent in the curriculum, assessment measures, and teachers themselves. This second edition of Closing the Achievement Gap argues that if education reform is to work, educators must become more sensitive to the worldviews of disadvantaged students--and to incorporate this awareness into their day-to-day work. Teachers, principals, and legislators must * Learn about cultural perceptions of human development, * Apply this knowledge to professional development and comprehensive reform, and * Align political policy accordingly. In addition to providing a framework for meeting these challenges, this book offers specific suggestions for bridging the cultural divide through such diverse methods as direct vocabulary instruction, opportunity-to-learn strategies, and school-level organizational reform. Thoroughly researched and eloquently written, it is a vital resource for ensuring that students of all backgrounds succeed equally well in the classroom.
Download or read book Closing America s High achievement Gap A Wise Giver s Guide to Helping Our Most Talented Students Reach Their Full Potential written by Andy Smarick and published by The Philanthropy Roundtable. This book was released on 2013-10-22 with total page 203 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This intriguing book makes a powerful case for a sorely needed U.S. educational improvement that has been almost entirely overlooked. During the last two decades, philanthropists and education reformers have made urgent efforts to pull weak students up to levels of basic competency. Though that vital work is incomplete, there is evidence of progress among low achievers. Meanwhile, though, children at the other end of the achievement spectrum have gotten lost in the shuffle. Programs and funding once aimed at stimulating high-potential students to make the most of their talents have withered, and we are now doing a poor job of stimulating our quick learners. When the particular needs of high-potential students are not met by schools, that is a moral failure—because every child deserves to be stretched and challenged. It is also a threat to our national interests—since high achievers will be crucial to America’s future ability to compete internationally. This is a field where donors have wide-open opportunities to lead. In the pages of this fresh, practical guidebook, savvy school-reform philanthropists will be introduced to scores of programs and institutions that can pull talented students of all ages, races, and income levels up to their full natural capabilities.
Download or read book Learning First written by Carolyn J. Kelley and published by Corwin Press. This book was released on 2009-08-11 with total page 217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Combine this research-based, collaborative framework with four critical dimensions of leadership to advance equity and excellence in student learning and close student achievement gaps in your school.
Download or read book The Human Side of Changing Education written by Julie M. Wilson and published by Corwin Press. This book was released on 2018-04-18 with total page 145 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Make change humanly possible Today’s schools know they must make problem solving, collaboration, self-directed learning and creativity an integral part of the school’s DNA, but they don’t always know how. When we ask schools to change, we are asking human beings to change. This requires special tools and a human-centered approach. In The Human Side of Changing Education, leaders will learn to make sense of their challenging change journeys and accelerate effective implementation. With this practical framework that includes human-centered tools, resources and mini case studies, readers will learn to navigate and succeed on their unique path of change. Understand why resistance is to be expected and how to get through it. Discover three different kinds of change strategies and when to use which one Learn how to use the "messy middle" of change, where real transformation happens Change the heart of the system by enabling the hearts and minds of those who make schools work. "Julie Wilson is both a visionary and a pragmatist. Her book is a wonderfully clear and concise guide for leaders who seek to navigate the road to educational transformation." Tony Wagner, Author The Global Achievement Gap and Creating Innovators "If you want to understand what it takes to create innovative and lasting change, then forge ahead with The Human Side of Changing Education, and bravely create your own hero′s journey. This is a valuable guide, with practical advice and real-life examples to support you in this very complicated and challenging work." Ann Koufman-Frederick, Chief Academic Officer LearnLaunch Institute, MAPLE "If everyone working in U.S. K-12 education were to read this book and put even half of its thinking into practice, we would be well on our way to a far better society. It is timely, visionary, and relentlessly practical – a rare combination. Discover what our future could look like if enough of us dare to make it happen." Andy Calkins, Director Next Generation Learning Challenges at EDUCAUSE
Download or read book 50 Ways to Close the Achievement Gap written by Carolyn J. Downey and published by Corwin Press. This book was released on 2009 with total page 337 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Outlines research-based strategies for developing high-performing schools and fostering educational equity for all students.
Download or read book Challenges and Opportunities of Educational Leadership Research and Practice written by Alex J. Bowers and published by IAP. This book was released on 2015-09-01 with total page 263 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As the sixth volume in the International Research on School Leadership series, the contributing authors in this volume consider the history, challenges, and opportunities of the field of research and practice in educational leadership and administration in schools and districts. Ten years after the work of Firestone and Riehl (2005) and their contributing authors, our aim with the present volume was to summarize and update the work of the field, and provide a space to consider the multiple futures of educational leadership in schools and districts, as both challenges and opportunities. The first decade of the twenty?first century brought significant critiques, challenges, and competition to the research and practice of training leaders and administrators of schools and districts around the world. Congruently, the field experienced significant growth and change, as multiple new sub?domains flourished and were founded. Thus, in this volume we were delighted to included excellent chapters from multiple authors that considered the duality of the challenges and opportunities of: - The work of the field of educational leadership and administration research to date. - The opportunities and challenges of new visions of leadership in traditional and non?traditional schools. - The evolving state of research evidence in educational leadership and the increasing sophistication of multiple methodologies, including qualitative research, quantitative modeling, the ability to test theory, and the increasing opportunities brought on by the intersection of data, research, and practice. - The preparation of educational leaders. - And the emerging trends in the professional development of school leaders. The authors of the nine chapters in the present book volume took on this challenge of confronting the duality of not only including the past as we look to the future, but also the duality of the critique of the field in the midst of exciting and significant progress in our knowledge and understanding of leadership in schools. In the first section of the book (Chapters 2, 3 and 4), the authors examine the interplay of educational leadership research and theory as it relates to reform in schools, especially as it relates to serving historically underserved populations globally. In section 2 (Chapters 5 and 6), the authors highlight the importance of methodological considerations in school leadership research as a means to understand theory and practice as well as providing interesting avenues that point to multiple exciting future possibilities through rely ing on current innovations noted within the chapters. Section 3, (Chapters 7 and 8) examine the research and practice of school leadership preparation, especially as it relates to university?district partnerships and non?traditional school settings. And in the final chapter, (Chapter 9), our capstone contributor provides a means to link the present volume with the past writings on these topics, while also providing a lens to view the exciting possibilities and promises of the multiple futures of the field of educational leadership research and practice.
Download or read book The Instructional Leader s Guide to Closing Achievement Gaps written by Teresa D. Hill and published by ASCD. This book was released on 2024 with total page 182 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This practical guide outlines five keys to effectively close achievement gaps in their districts and schools and provides tools for increasing student achievement"--
Download or read book The Instructional Leader s Guide to Closing Achievement Gaps written by Teresa D. Hill and published by ASCD. This book was released on 2024-06-17 with total page 217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: All the tools that educators need to improve student outcomes and close achievement gaps. Although it's easy to connect out-of-school factors such as poverty or the pandemic to achievement gaps in schools today, education leaders need to focus on what's within their school or district’s control to ensure equitable learning outcomes for their students. In this practical guide for K–12 instructional leaders, superintendent Teresa D. Hill outlines five keys to effectively close achievement gaps: meaningful assessment, language and literacy, experience and exposure, consolidation of knowledge, and perfect practice. She walks readers through a step-by-step process so that they can * Develop a deep understanding of the achievement gaps in their school or district, including the sources and perpetuators of those gaps. * Prepare their team for the capacity-building work ahead. * Closely examine the five most meaningful and effective strategies for improving outcomes that fall within their school's sphere of influence. * Develop and implement a real-world action plan, including short-, moderate-, and long-term steps for closing gaps. Written by a colleague who knows firsthand what it takes to increase student achievement, the targeted advice and tools in The Instructional Leader's Guide to Closing Achievement Gaps will help educators confront the gaps in their school or district and make progress right away.
Download or read book The Global Achievement Gap written by Tony Wagner and published by ReadHowYouWant.com. This book was released on 2010-05-21 with total page 478 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Despite the best efforts of educators, our nation's schools are dangerously obsolete. Instead of teaching students to be critical thinkers and problem-solvers, we are asking them to memorize facts for multiple choice tests. This problem isn't limited to low-income school districts: even our top schools aren't teaching or testing the skills that matter most in the global knowledge economy. Our teens leave school equipped to work only in the kinds of jobs that are fast disappearing from the American economy. Meanwhile, young adults in India and China are competing with our students for the most sought-after careers around the world. Education expert Tony Wagner has conducted scores of interviews with business leaders and observed hundreds of classes in some of the nation's most highly regarded public schools. He discovered a profound disconnect between what potential employers are looking for in young people today (critical thinking skills, creativity, and effective communication) and what our schools are providing (passive learning environments and uninspired lesson plans that focus on test preparation and reward memorization). He explains how every American can work to overhaul our education system, and he shows us examples of dramatically different schools that teach all students new skills. In addition, through interviews with college graduates and people who work with them, Wagner discovers how teachers, parents, and employers can motivate the ''net'' generation to excellence. An education manifesto for the twenty-first century, The Global Achievement Gap is provocative and inspiring. It is essential reading for parents, educators, business leaders, policy-makers, and anyone interested in seeing our young people succeed as employees and citizens.
Download or read book Create Success written by Kadhir Rajagopal and published by ASCD. This book was released on 2011 with total page 171 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For far too long, disadvantaged students in urban environments have believed the fallacy that academic success is unattainable. Why? The unfortunate answer is that too many urban school systems preemptively declare underperforming students to be failures, a practice that fosters dysfunctional classrooms that fail to motivate, engage, and inspire students to succeed. In Create Success!, Kadhir Rajagopal, affectionately known as Dr. Raja to his students, outlines his no-holds-barred approach to teaching urban students. Through his CREATE model of instruction, students are held accountable for their own learning, taught at an appropriate level and in familiar language, and imbued with the sense that learning and personal achievement are qualities of which they should be proud--not ashamed. Dr. Raja's CREATE model also places an emphasis on the active participation of teachers, parents, caregivers, and coaches in each student's success. Resulting in unprecedented success among students previously dismissed as lost causes and academic failures, the CREATE model has demonstrated that it is indeed possible to close the achievement gap, even in the most difficult cases. Rajagopal has also shown that his model can be replicated in any classroom by a teacher who is willing to assume responsibility for each student's success, hold students accountable, embrace culturally responsive instruction, and vigorously work on behalf of all students. Filled with personal insights and battle-tested strategies that promote student achievement, Create Success! is a pioneering approach to urban education from a 2011 California Teacher of the Year.
