Reform Can Make a Difference: A Guide to School Reform

Public education in the United States does not fulfill either the educational needs or the social needs of children. Its deficiencies have serious negative consequences in our political system, our economy, and within our social and cultural affairs. We must seek to improve education through research, policy analysis, and the development of alternatives to existing policies and practices. Educational reform should include promoting greater parental choice in education, a competitive educational industry, and other policies that address the problems of both public and private schools. The ultimate goal is improved student achievement, especially in our nation's cities, where large numbers of students, are not reaching the levels of achievement they need in order to live successful lives as adults. This book explores some of the unique characteristics of school reform and focuses on the role of poverty in reform, including the negative effects of low-income neighborhoods on the youth who reside there, concluding that reducing poverty can lead to more positive academic behavior and success. Reform Can Make a Difference enables readers to look at different reform programs that are available for schools and determine which model, if any, will fit their needs. The book assists schools in designing their own reform model that will help address issues students and families have with public schools.

About the Author :
Darlene Leiding is an expert in the realm of charter schools and alternative education and has created an elementary and high school alternative program. She is currently a special education facilitator and PM program coordinator at High School for Recording Arts, working with inner-city, African American students.

Review :
Leiding has had extensive experience as an educator and realizes the profound effect education has on students as well as on the greater society. Because of her experience with parents, students, the legal system, school boards, teachers, administrators, and other stakeholders, her depth of understanding demonstrates her ability to take an in-depth view of education in America. Leiding understands the relationship of all the various elements that interact when trying to create the changes necessary to help schools become more effective. Her book provides an historical perspective and also raises some provocative questions when dealing with school reform. She ultimately raises such fundamental questions as 'What is school?' and 'What is its purpose?' These questions are certainly not new; they continue to be asked. Leiding explores the issues of conflicting expectations and agendas which complicate the reform necessary for education to keep pace with a changing world. This book will help educators, policy makers, and parents better understand the dilemmas facing education in the twenty-first century. Darlene Leiding discusses the necessity for renewal of academic traditions in our schools. Our school districts have been overwhelmed by political and social upheavals in our society. Educators need to reform the academic traditions in mathematics, science, and language skills. Leiding has identified distractions which have impeded reform in our school districts. As a marketer of academically rigorous middle and high school textbooks, I highly recommend this book. Darlene Leiding's books reflect her vast experiences in both public and private education in our country. Her recommendations emphasize real-world solutions, as well as research-based solutions, to the problems that plague our schools today. It is refreshing to find an author who so clearly perceives the nature of the disease in the current educational systems rather than just the symptoms of their dysfunction. In Reform Can Make a Difference, Leiding has the courage to propose the type of educational reform that will provide our children with greater opportunities for personal success in the ever-changing, competitive twenty-first century. Leiding presents various ways to tackle complicated issues in school reformmmmm Myriad children-because of socioeconomic, intrapersonal, and interpersonal challenges and differentiated learning styles, aptitudes, attitudes, and interests-just don't fit in the traditional system. Consequently, they are unable to develop or otherwise bring to fruition skills, abilities, and talents that are simply denied expression through traditional schools. Alternative educational programs and schools, such as the ones referenced in Leiding's book-and especially those that incorporate music as a fundamental element in their philosophy-are indeed viable options. In these alternative environments, these children's spoken word can replicate their written word; their music can model their math; their rap can reflect their reading; their hip-hop can confirm their history; their language can legitimize their learning. If they can make it relevant, they can make it real. These students do not need to have read Frost to appreciate the difference made by 'the road less traveled.' Leiding presents various ways to tackle complicated issues in school reform