Title
Sharpening the Focus of Political Will to Address Achievement Disparities
Date of Completion
January 2011
Abstract
The sharpening of political will to address achievement disparities between English Language Learner (ELL) and non-ELL students is examined from four different perspectives: (a) instructional leadership, (b) professional learning, (c) policy implementation, and (d) social justice leadership. Literature in these four areas is compared to current practices in MidCity, a mid-sized diverse urban district. The analysis of MidCity from these four perspectives provides a basis for recommendations on how to sharpen the focus of political will among educational leaders to lessen achievement disparities between ELL and non-ELL students. ^ Recommendations include (a) improving the instructional and social justice leadership among administrators; (b) creating coalitions with community leaders; (c) increasing teacher and parent input in the decision-making process; (d) improving opportunities for teachers' professional learning; and (e) auditing policy implementation practices systematically to ensure that they are equitable for all students. ^
Recommended Citation
Cardona, Miguel Angel, "Sharpening the Focus of Political Will to Address Achievement Disparities" (2011). Doctoral Dissertations. Paper AAI3468062.
http://digitalcommons.uconn.edu/dissertations/AAI3468062