Using Data to Close the Achievement Gap : How to Measure Equity in Our Schools

Book: Using Data to Close the Achievement Gap : How to Measure Equity in Our Schools , by Ruth S. Johnson, Anne Wheelock, ISBN10: 0761945091, ISBN13: 9780761945093, SAGE Publications, August 2002, Paperback

Ruth S. Johnson is Professor of Educational Administration at California State University, Los Angeles. She received her Ed.D. degree in Educational Theory from Rutgers University. Her dissertation was titled An Exploratory Study of Academic Labeling, Student Achievement and Student Ethnographic Characteristics. Dr. Johnson has served in a variety of educational settings in New Jersey and California. At the K-12 level, she has been a classroom teacher, instructional consul-tant, director of elementary education, an analyst, an assistant superintendent of schools in the areas of curriculum and business, and a superintendent of schools. She was a compensatory education consultant for the New Jersey Department of Education. Prior to assuming her current position in higher education, Dr. Johnson directed the Southern California Of'ce of the Achievement Council, a nonpro't public inter-est organization whose mission is to examine outcomes for urban and low-income students and to help schools and districts to build capacity to prepare students to succeed at the highest educational levels, including four-year colleges and universi-ties. Other nonpro't work included directing a teacher initiative for the Los Angeles Annenberg Metropolitan Project (LAAMP). Dr. Johnson's major scholarly interests and publications focus on processes re-lated to changing the academic culture of urban schools with an emphasis on access and equity. The ?rst edition of this book, Setting Our Sights: Measuring Equity in School Change, is being used in schools and colleges nationally. Dr. Johnson makes frequent presentations and serves as a consultant to schools and districts.

"Dr. Johnson's work provides both the philosophical and practical blueprint for transforming public schools into the learning communities we want and need. Leaders will find the book to be the most useful document to guide and inform their efforts to close the gap and maximize learning for all students."
Joseph Burke, Superintendent of Schools
Springfield Public Schools
Springfield, MA

"If the goal of all students reaching high standards is to be met, Using Data to Close the Achievement Gap should be required reading for all teachers and administrators. It should also be an integral part of the course of study for those preparing to teach in the United States."
Vinetta C. Jones, Dean
School of Education, Howard University

"From Johnson's penetrating analysis of current research, policies, and practices, and her wealth of experiences working with school districts around the nation, she clearly makes the connection between using data and achieving equitable outcomes as districts and schools struggle to close the achievement gap."
Aukram Burton, Diversity/Multicultural Specialist
Gheen Professional Development Academy
Louisville, KY

"This book represents a significant contribution to the national debate around school reform. Ruth Johnson presents a thoughtful, well-documented treatise on how educators, policymakers, and parents can use data to set achievement goals and to measure progress towards these goals."
Walter Allen, Professor
Department of Sociology, UCLA

Exercise the power of data to identify and rectify educationalinequalities!

Student populations are diverse—however, their access to knowledge and success should not be. Unfortunately, statistics show that real disparities do exist in academic achievement, which consistently coincide with income level and race. In this comprehensive guide, Ruth S. Johnson highlights compelling evidence that these inequities can be linked to school practices that inadvertently increase inequities. The solution to this pervasive problem lies in the collection and examination of appropriate data, and this book shows readers how.

This updated edition of Setting Our Sights: Measuring Equity in School Change now includes current studies, policies, and practices, and provides new sections on data dialogues and school indicators. It offers valuable assistance for understanding, visioning, planning, and executing tactics that can successfully close the gap in student achievement, including:

• Straightforward and in-depth discussions of the five stages for equity reform
• Clear and easy-to-understand explanations of research findings
• Practical tools including questionnaires, surveys, forms, and models
• Tips for effectively gathering, analyzing, and applying data

Johnson shows how data is instrumental not only in targeting areas for improvement, but also in offering insights into the necessary steps to foster positive change and create a culture of high achievement for all students, especially those students who have traditionally been overlooked. An indispensable reference for any school undergoing a quality review process, this reader-friendly manual presents practical how-to's for analyzing data and developing a strategy that empowers teachers and administrators with an equal opportunity for success.

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