Educators are acutely aware of the statistical gaps in achievement between different racial groups. Considering the rapidly changing racial composition of student populations, how can educators reach a level of cultural proficiency necessary to eliminate this disparity? Examining the achievement gap through the prism of race, this comprehensive text explains the need for candid, courageous conversations about race so that educators may understand why performance inequity persists, and learn how they can develop a curriculum that promotes true academic parity. To help guide policy analysis and instructional reform, the authors present a systemwide plan for transforming schools and districts. Practical features of this book include: implementation exercises; prompts, language, and tools that support profound discussion; activities and checklists for administrators; and action steps for creating an equity team. Only when educators have established both a language and a process for addressing the intersection of race and achievement, will they be able to restructure their schools in ways which improve student performance and fulfill the promise that every child has a right to learn regardless of their race, culture, or class. This book comprises three parts and thirteen chapters. The book commences with a Foreword (Gloria Ladson-Billings), Preface, Acknowlegments, About the Author, and Chapter (1) Breaking the Silence: Ushering in Courageous Conversation about Race. Part I, Passion: An Essential Characteristic of Anti-Racist Leadership, contains: (2) What's So Courageous about This Conversation?; (3) Why Race?; and (4) Agreeing to Talk about Race. Part II, Practice: The Foundation of Anti-Racist Leadership, contains: (5) The First Condition: Getting Personal Right Here and Right Now; (6) The Second Condition: Keeping the Spotlight on Race; (7) The Third Condition: Engaging Multiple Racial Perspectives; (8) The Fourth Condition: Keeping Us All at the Table; (9) The Fifth Condition: What Do You Mean By "Race"?; and (10) The Sixth Condition: Let's Talk about Whiteness. Part III, Persistence: The Key to Anti-Racist Leadership, contains: (11) How Anti-Racist Leaders Close the Achievement Gap; (12) Exploring a Systemic Framework for Closing the Racial Achievement Gap; and (13) Using Courageous Conversation to Achieve Equity in Schools. Following is a section entitled Resource: Racism and the Achievement Gap. This book concludes with references, and an index.