Leading for Equity

Leading for Equity tells the compelling story of the Montgomery County (Maryland) Public Schools and its transformation--in less than a decade--into a system committed to breaking the links between race and class and academic achievement. In chapters organized around six core themes, the authors lay out the essential elements of MCPS's success. They identify key lessons other districts can draw from MCPS's experience and offer a framework for applying them. A dramatic departure from "business as usual," MCPS has won nationwide attention as a compelling model for tackling the achievement and opportunity issues that confront our nation as a whole. "How do we move from islands of excellence--which exist today in virtually every school district--to systems of excellence which unfortunately today are much harder to find? Many of the answers lie in the Montgomery County story. We can hope to serve every child only by committing to whole-district transformation--and Montgomery County is one of the examples that shows us the way." -- Arne Duncan, former CEO, Chicago Public Schools "Every person working to improve America's schools should consider the real-world lessons in this book." -- Randi Weingarten, president, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO "An exceedingly tight, targeted, and well-told story . . . MCPS got it right. Will we?" -- Arlene C. Ackerman, superintendent of schools, School District of Philadelphia "As this book shows, closing the achievement gap is doable; the question is whether we have the will to get it done." -- Joel I. Klein, chancellor, New York City Schools "Leading for Equity is a game-changer. Every school board member, county official, superintendent, union, and business leader should take note." -- Anne L. Bryant, executive director, National School Boards Association "Some educators believe that there is no remedy for the achievement gaps between advantaged and disadvantaged school children. Dr. Jerry Weast, the hard-charging superintendent of Montgomery County Schools is not one of them . . . This book carries a message that all serious educators and all who care about America's future should take to heart." -- Roger Wilkins, Clarence J. Robinson Professor Emeritus, George Mason University "Leading for Equity is a must-read for anyone who still doubts that a school district can enable students of all backgrounds to perform at high levels." -- Dan Katzir, managing director, The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation "Leading for Equity is not just a story of bold, visionary leadership, it's a road map for helping all schools succeed." -- Jim Hunt, former governor of North Carolina (1977-1985, 1993-2001) "This behind-the-scenes look at the leadership, vision, and determination of superintendent Jerry Weast and his colleagues presents a practical blueprint for superintendents and everyone else concerned about education reform." -- Charles Kolb, president, Committee for Economic Development "The district's success in improving the achievement levels of minority and low-income students and dismantling barriers to high performance have made it a model for other districts nationwide." -- Daniel A. Domenech, executive director, American Association of School Administrators "Leading for Equity shows what it is going to take to begin to close the achievement gap: courageous, collaborative, wise, and creative leadership. Useful to scholars and practitioners alike, this book is a valuable addition to the literature of change." -- James P. Comer, Maurice Falk Professor of Child Psychiatry, Yale University Child Study Center "The writers demonstrate what happens when a school district aims high and lines up everything to reach the 'North Star' of high academic achievement for all students. Superintendent Jerry Weast and the Montgomery County education community lead the way for school districts everywhere." -- Richard W. Riley, former U. S. secretary of education Stacey M. Childress, Denis P. Doyle, and David A. Thomas, with a foreword by David Gergen