Introduction
Chapter 1- Setting the stage: Poverty, diversity and urban education
- Demographic challenge and change
- The changing meaning of equity
- The literature on urban educational systems
- Conclusions
Chapter Two – Change in the Winnipeg School Board
Chapter Three - Reform at the Toronto Board of Education
- The Toronto Board of Education
- The 1970's: setting an agenda for reform
- Some of the Toronto reform trustees
- The 1980s: institutionalizing change
- Conclusions
Chapter Four – Ideas Matter: The Impact of Evidence and Belief
- How do ideas matter?
- Social movements and evidence informed policy
- Frameworks for thinking about education and equity
- Educational analysis in the Toronto and Winnipeg boards
- Ideas as a resource for change in Toronto
- Ideas as a resource for change in Winnipeg
- Conclusions
Chapter five - Politics, conflict and civic capacity
- Central and local: Relationships between districts and provincial governments
- Trustees and boards
- Community involvement
- Relations with board administrators
- Conclusions
Chapter 6 - Teaching and Learning in Urban Schools
- Creating a welcoming classroom environment
- Changing the curriculum
- Rethinking literacy
- Streaming and secondary school change
- Testing and assessment
- Relationships with teachers and their unions
- Conclusions
Chapter 7 - Lessons from Canadian urban school reform
- Have things improved over the last forty years?
- Policy proposals and their limits Ideas and research
- Politics
- Teaching and learning
- What should be done?
- School districts need thoughtful strategic plans
- Stronger links are needed between urban districts and provincial governments
- More public debate based on good data around the political controversies inherent in urban public education.
- Urban schools must be good places to work and learn so as to attract and retain good people
- A central and sustained focus on improved teaching and learning
- Strong, consistent community engagement
- Better use of research and evidence
- The necessary infrastructure to support all of the above
Appendix on methodology
Index of Names and Organizations
References
