Communities for Excellent Public Schools
The Administration's rigid, top-down interventions in low-performing schools are not supported by research, and disproportionately target African American and Hispanic students and low-income communities, finds a new report released by Communities for Excellent Public Schools (CEPS). "Our Communities Left Behind: an Analysis of the Administration's School Turnaround Policies" offers a critique of the four interventions being funded through the School Improvement Grants program.
CEPS also released a proposed alternative to the 4 top-down mandated reforms promoted by the Department of Education. Their alternative proposal, "Sustainable School Transformation" calls for research-based educational strategies, wrap-around supports for students, and an inclusive planning process that brings students, parents and teachers to the table to construct a reform plan.
Communities for Excellent Public Schools is an emerging coalition of community organizing groups from around the country.
Here's the link to the two docs listed above: http://www.ceps-ourschools.org/