| Abstract |
"A Light Shines in Harlem tells the fascinating history of New York's first charter school, the Sisulu-Walker Charter School of Harlem, and the early days of the state's charter-school movement. It is a penetrating look at the real world of education reform--the hundreds of small decisions and big risks that go into making a school succeed. And it imparts an inside view, through the involvement of a hero of the civil rights movement, a Wall Street star, inner-city activists, educators, parents, and students, who all came together to create a groundbreaking school that, in its best years, far outperformed public schools in the neighborhoods in which most of its children lived. But this book also looks at education reform through a broader lens, discussing recent research and issues facing the charter movement today. It answers two fundamental questions: What makes a school succeed or fail? And how can these lessons be applied to other schools to make them better? The result is not only a gripping narrative of how one school fought to succeed despite the odds but also an illuminating glimpse into the future of American education"-- Provided by publisher. |
