One sure way to undermine progress is to divide the very people who must come together to create genuine and lasting reform. Yet it seems, sometimes, that the most common response to poor performing schools is to cast blame: teachers are accused of not trying hard enough; parents are criticized for not being involved enough. Read more…

Lalo Montoya, a student at North High School in Denver, used to skip a lot of school.  It just didn’t seem that the teachers or counselors at North expected much from the school’s predominantly Latino students.  Lalo’s perception is justified by the numbers: a 2004 study showed that only 38% of Latino students entering North Read more…

The powerful Mississippi River flows past the town of Greenville as a force of nature.  Watching the river go past, one can hardly help thinking about its ability to change course over decades and centuries, transforming the very land through which it passes.  A similar force has come to the town of Greenville, Mississippi and Read more…

“We have the voice.  We know what we can do.” At 18 years old Aliwya Sharif has done more than many adults.  She has been a spokesperson at press conferences, an advocate with elected officials, and a leader to her peers.  She has also been homeless and has struggled for stability in fragile life circumstances. Read more…

In the spring of 2007, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) adopted a new discipline policy for its 730,000 students.  The new policy moves the district away from harsh “zero tolerance” strategies, and focuses instead on prevention through positive behavior supports, teacher training for better classroom management, and parent engagement. CADRE, an independent, south Read more…