This Works: Improving Urban Education. Civic Bulletin.

Overview & Synopsis

This bulletin discusses approaches that reformers are using nationwide to bring about improvement in urban schools. It focuses on (1) embracing more choices (school vouchers, charter schools, private management, public school transfers, home schooling, enrolling high school students in community colleges, and virtual education); (2) holding schools and students accountable and insisting on results (using regular testing, eliminating social promotion, adopting proven school designs, reforming special education, instituting year-round schooling, expanding preschool education, and improving the teacher certification process); and (3) staying the course (working with an alliance of businesses, community leaders, and reform politicians dedicated to choice and accountability reforms in order to ensure success). (SM)