Until every school gives all students an education that prepares them for college and a career, African-American parents will have to fight for their children's future, class by class, teacher by teacher, and school by school. Your child deserves nothing less. This guide shows you: (1) Why your child needs to prepare for college and a career; (2)…

Given lingering racism in this country, one would not be surprised to learn this: African-American students are much less likely than white students to have the most qualified teachers--the ones with the most experience and greatest expertise in the subject matter. Many African-American students go to schools that do not even offer some of the…

California's education system has long failed to meet the needs of the low-income students and students of color who are now a vast majority of the state's student population. To close persistent achievement gaps, the state must dramatically improve the learning outcomes of the highest-need students by leveraging proven strategies such as…

In this report, The Education Trust-West grades the 146 largest unified school districts in California on four key indicators of student performance to see how well they are serving their African-American, Latino, and low-income students. While most districts in California earn Cs and Ds on these indicators, some districts prove that more is…

California's students, particularly its poorest students, need great teachers. Unfortunately, California's seniority-based teacher layoff system puts adult privileges over student needs. Newer teachers are laid off first, regardless of how well they do their jobs. This system is especially damaging to schools serving the highest numbers of…

Despite Michigan's rich history of entrepreneurship and innovation, the state now trails most others both economically and educationally. This report documents the shockingly low performance of schools statewide. Although Detroit has the weakest scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) among the country's big cities, other…

This report finds that only five in ten graduates were college-ready in the districts studied and presents data finding that only one in ten graduates were both college and career-ready. Latino, African-American, and low-income students fared far worse than their more advantaged peers. The report calls for a more integrated and equitable approach…

Too many low-income, Hispanic, and African-American students in Texas's 50 largest districts are not getting their fair share of the best teachers, or the money it takes to pay for them. This report documents sometimes stunning inequities in teacher credentials, teacher experience, teacher turnover and average teacher salaries among schools within…

The educational success of Latino students is critical to the prosperity and vitality of California and the nation. The state has more than three million Latino students in its classrooms, accounting for roughly half of all the children in public schools. This report tracks the most recent data on Latino achievement in California and examines…

California touts some of the highest educational standards in the country. Yet when it comes to the state's African-American students, these standards have proved to be little more than a mirage, forever out of reach. This report analyzes the most recent data on African-American achievement and opportunity gaps from the elementary grades through…

An analysis of accountability for high school graduation rates under the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) reveals two major problems: (1) State goals for raising graduation rates are far too low to spur needed improvement and (2) Gaps between student groups are allowed to persist by an accountability system that looks only at average…

The nation's 50 flagship universities serve disproportionately fewer low-income and minority students than in the past, according to this fifth report in the Education Trust's series on college results. Students in the entering and graduating classes at these schools look less and less like the state populations those universities were created to…

In July 2006, for the first time, leaders in every state had to deliver to the Secretary of Education their plans for ensuring that low-income and minority students in their states are not taught disproportionately by inexperienced, out-of-field, or uncertified teachers. For many, this process was the first step in helping the citizens of their…

The findings of this analysis represent cause for both optimism and concern. In most states, schools and systems are raising achievement and closing gaps, especially in the elementary grades. But in far too many states, they are struggling to educate students, especially low-income and minority students, to middle and high school standards.…

Even as the United States extends a free public education to all children, it rigs the system against the success of some of the most vulnerable by taking those who arrive at school with the greatest needs and giving them less in school. Low-income and minority students, in particular, get less of what matters most; these students get the fewest…