Valley Interfaith and School Reform: Organizing for Power in South Texas

Synopsis

Can public schools still educate America's children, particularly in poor and working class communities? Many advocates of school reform have called for dismantling public education in favor of market-based models of reform such as privatization and vouchers.

By contrast, this pathfinding book explores how community organizing and activism in support of public schools in one of America's most economically disadvantaged regions, the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, has engendered impressive academic results.

Dennis Shirley focuses the book around case studies of three schools that have benefited from the reform efforts of a community group called Valley Interfaith, which works to develop community leadership and boost academic achievement. He follows the remarkable efforts of teachers, parents, school administrators, clergy, and community activists to take charge of their schools and their communities and describes the effects of these efforts on students' school performance and testing results.

Copyright:

2002

Book Details

Book Quality:

Publisher Quality

ISBN-13:

9780292774964

Publisher:

University of Texas Press

Date of Addition:

04/11/16

Copyrighted By:

University of Texas Press

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

No

Categories:

Nonfiction, Education, Philosophy, Politics and Government, Sociology

Submitted By:

Bookshare Staff

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.