New Book Tells the Story of Three School Districts Effectively Serving Students Through Continuous Improvement Approaches

A California-focused item that may be of interest to some readers.

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Disrupting Disruption: The Steady Work of Transforming Schools COVID confirmed what was already plain for many—the quality of education in the United States is deeply unequal. Access to an education that prepares students to thrive in our global economy often depends on a student’s zip code, income, and race. In a new book, Disrupting Disruption: The Steady Work of Transforming Schools, LPI Senior Research Fellow David Kirp, LPI Principal Research Manager Marjorie Wechsler, and colleagues discuss why these inequities will not be overcome by such solutions as implementing a one-size-fits-all curriculum, firing teachers and administrators, or shuttering schools. Instead, they find what does work is a system of continuous improvement built on a solid foundation of highly-skilled professionals, leadership that is committed to collaboration, and an engaged community. Disrupting Disruption tells the story of three school districts that have largely eliminated racial and ethnic opportunity gaps and increased graduation rates for all students. The book profiles Union, Oklahoma; Union City, New Jersey; and Roanoke, Virginia—where educators have faced enormous challenges, such as rapidly shifting demographics, deteriorating buildings, high rates of student homelessness, and increased teacher turnover. Instead of taking what the authors call “disruptive measures,” these districts have adopted gradual, evidence-driven approaches to improvement. “The step-by-step, evidence-driven approach used by school districts like the three that we highlight has boosted graduation rates and essentially wiped out the opportunity gap. This is the way that schools can change the arc of their students’ lives,” writes David Kirp, professor of Public Policy at the University of California-Berkeley and co-author of Disrupting Disruption. Authors have found that the experience of these communities, and others like them, shows that incremental reform, rooted in research, community needs, and continuous improvement, makes all the difference. ORDER THE BOOK ▸ Click to tweet: New book from @DavidKirp and colleagues asserts quick-fix reforms don’t work for school systems, and shows how an evidence-based approach of continuous improvement can boost graduation rates and close opportunity gaps. #DisruptingDisruption https://bit.ly/3VwKz3a

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