Practice: Initiatives
Many organizations and groups are focused various aspects of equity and excellence in education. In particular, efforts to close the academic achievement gaps among race, class, and language groups tops the agendas of many educator and community groups.
Listed below are some of the initiatives that offer resources from multiple entry points for improving education for all students.
Campaign for Educational Equity at Teachers College
Teachers College, Columbia University
The Campaign for Educational Equity is the research and public voice of Teachers College, Columbia University. It is dedicated to promoting equity in excellence in education and overcoming the gap in educational access and achievement between the most and least advantaged groups in this country. Key components include research and dissemination, equity report card, the equity symposia and demonstration projects.
www.tcequity.org/
Education Trust
The Education Trust works for the high academic achievement of all students at all levels, pre-kindergarten through college, and forever closing the achievement gaps that separate low-income students and students of color from other youth. Our basic tenet is this – All children will learn at high levels when they are taught to high levels. Ed Trust publishes the Equity Express weekly education reform news roundup (subscribe from their homepage).
http://www2.edtrust.org/edtrust
Forum for Youth Investment
The Forum for Youth Investment is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to helping communities and the nation make sure all young people are ready for college, work and life. This goal requires that young people have the supports, opportunities and services needed to prosper and contribute where they live, learn, work, play and make a difference. The Forum provides youth and adult leaders with the information, technical assistance, training, network support and partnership opportunities needed to increase the quality and quantity of youth investment and youth involvement.
www.forumfyi.org/
Harvard's Achievement Gap Initiative
The Achievement Gap Initiative is a research-based response to four urgent national imperatives; 1) Increased Global Competitiveness, 2) Changing National Demographics, 3) Persistent Ethnic and Racial Achievement Gaps, 4) The O'Connor Challenge to Affirmative Action. Their mission is to share knowledge in useful and useable formats for a variety of audiences such as policy makers, practitioners and researchers. Our goal is to inform the debate and assist in providing real solutions to the complex problems that face the nation. Our intention is to provide easy access to the latest research submitted by scholars nationwide.
agi.harvard.edu/main.php
NAACP
The overall goal of the NAACP National Education Department is to ensure that all students have access to an equal and high-quality public education by eliminating all education related racial and ethnic disparities. Through advocacy training, policy development and guidance, building collaborative networks, and direct action, the National Education Department works to accomplish this goal with assistance from NAACP regional directors, state and local education committee chairs as well as our Partners in Education.
www.naacp.org/advocacy/education/
National Center for Culturally Responsive Systems (NCCRSt)
The National Center for Culturally Responsive Educational Systems (NCCRESt), a project funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Special Educations Programs, provides technical assistance and professional development to close the achievement gap between students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and their peers, and reduce inappropriate referrals to special education.
http://www.nccrest.org/
Public Education Network (PEN)
Public Education Network (PEN) is a national association of local education funds (LEFs) and individuals working to advance public school reform in low-income communities across our country. PEN believes an active, vocal constituency is the key to ensuring that every child, in every community, benefits from a quality public education.
www.publiceducation.org/index.asp
Urban Institute
The Urban Institute's mission is to promote sound social policy and public debate on national priorities. The Urban Institute gathers and analyzes data, conducts policy research, evaluates programs and services, and educates Americans on critical issues and trends. The also analyze policies, evaluate programs, and inform community development to improve social, civic, and economic well-being.
www.urban.org/center/epc/index.cfm
