Corwin 50 Ways to Close the Achievement Gap

Written for school leaders, this hands-on guide to improving student outcomes and schoolwide performance clearly outlines 50 strategies to achieve high-performing schools. Emphasizing a focus on educational equity for all students, the authors organize the 50 ways for improvement around six critical standards: establish a well-crafted, focused, valid, and clear curriculum to direct teaching; provide assessments aligned to the curriculum; align program and instructional resources to the curriculum and provide student equality and equity; use a mastery learning approach and effective teaching strategies; establish curriculum expectations, monitoring, and accountability; institute effective district and school planning, staff development, resource allocations, and provide for a quality learning environment. Review "Each of the 50 strategies explains what the strategy is, why it is important, and how it can be implemented. This book will be a tremendous resource for educators." -- Cole Pugh, Superintendent Published On: 2008-04-08 "The strategies are a well-designed balance of central office support and site-based implementation that guides the educational leadership through curriculum alignment, mastery learning, and resource allocation in this age of NCLB accountability." -- Joe Bazenas, Principal Published On: 2008-04-08 "The authors are the most knowledgeable in the field for quality improvement efforts in an era of high-stakes accountability. This resource will help practitioners maintain focus on the most important strategies for school improvement." -- Betty Burks, Deputy Superintendent Published On: 2008-04-08 "A practical, easy-to-follow, but conceptually aligned book that identifies the things we can do to achieve substantial performance improvement in any school." -- David Lutkemeier, Educational Consultant Published On: 2008-04-08 "A very timely and useful resource that offers clear and purposeful direction for those working in the field of student achievement." -- Beverley Freedman, Program Manager, Canada’s Outstanding Principals Published On: 2008-04-08 About the Author Carolyn J. Downey is professor emeritus of educational leadership in the College of Education at San Diego State University. She formerly was the superintendent for the Kyrene School District, Phoenix-Tempe, Arizona. Downey has written several books and numerous articles. She is the author of the training program "The Three-Minute Walk-Through and Reflective Feedback for Higher Student Achievement." Her most recent book with Betty E. Steffy, William K. Poston Jr., and Fenwick W. English is 50 Ways to Close the Achievement Gap. She was the major architect of the CMSI Individual School Audit using the 50 Characteristics for Higher Student Achievement. She is the author of several of the Principal-Teacher Series for Higher Student Achievement training materials. She received her MS from the University of Southern California and her PhD from Arizona State University. Betty E. Steffy is a retired professor of educational leadership and policy studies at Iowa State University. She formerly was a dean of a School of Education at a regional campus of Purdue University and served as deputy superintendent of instruction in the Kentucky Department of Education. She served as a superintendent of schools in New Jersey and as a director of curriculum for a regional educational agency in Pennsylvania. She created the professional development model entitled Life Cycle of the Career Teacher. She is the author/coauthor of ten books in education and numerous articles and symposium papers at UCEA and AERA. She earned her BA, MAT, and EdD from the University of Pittsburgh. William K. Poston Jr. is an Emeritus Professor of educational leadership and policy studies at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, where he served for 17 years. A former math and physics teacher, he accumulated 25 years of experience in educational ad