Resources

This free guide profiles seven charter schools in high-poverty communities with historically underserved children that are making headway in narrowing gaps in achievement.

The guide examines factors contributing to these charter schools’ hard-earned successes, including mission-driven focus, innovating across the program, teaching for mastery, positive school culture, families as partners, accountability, and continuous professional learning and improvement. Highlighted are practices that may inspire and inform other school communities as they strive to help all students meet 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
• Charter High Schools: Closing the Achievement Gap