Resources

This free guide addresses a central goal of current education reform efforts nationwide — closing achievement gaps that separate the academic performance of various subgroups of students, especially between low-income, minority, and special needs students and their peers.

The guide profiles eight charter secondary schools that are making headway in meeting the achievement challenge. They are introduced in this publication so their practices can inspire and inform other school communities striving to ensure that all students, regardless of race, ZIP code, learning differences, or home language, are successful learners capable of meeting high academic standards.

This resource is one of a series of Innovation Guides produced by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Innovation and Improvement. Other Innovation Guides include:

• Supporting Charter School Excellence Through Quality Authorizing
• Engaging Parents in Education: Lessons From Five Parental Information and Resource Centers
• Giving Parents Options: Strategies for Informing Parents and Implementing Public School Choice and Supplemental Educational Services Under No Child Left Behind
• K-8 Charter Schools Closing the Achievement Gap