Portrays the beliefs and practices of four successful African American teachers in the context of existing research. The persistence of common themes across numerous studies suggests that African American pedagogy is not idiosyncratic. This interpretive study provides a way to recognize and understand such pedagogy. (SLD)

Describes the partnerships developed by Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis with public schools and community organizations to improve urban student performance through teacher education and full-service schools (schools that offer a wrap-around of services to eliminate or minimize socioeconomic or health-related barriers to…

Describes the Urban Teachers' Corps, a program of the Great City Universities coalition, that focuses on improving the academic performance of students in school districts that partner with a university through enhanced educator preparation and professional development. (SLD)

Examines the reasons why one-third of the teachers in a large urban school district rated the quality of their school highly but did not want their own children to attend the school where they taught. Finds the following explanations: (1) overall school quality; (2) disciplinary consistency; and (3) racial attitudes. Discusses policy implications.…

Research suggests that using an ecological approach to school reform calls for understanding how urban school curricula, procedures, and regulations affect interactions among students, teachers, and parents and then devising solutions that do not blame any party. The federal program Trainers of Teacher Trainers exemplifies forging new…

One professor of education's solution to the shortage of qualified urban teachers is an urban teacher selection interview that predicts would-be teachers' professional potential in the classroom. It involves relentless questioning by interviewers who test the interviewees' persistence in handling tough problems then rate their potential as…

A review of the research and a look at some assumptions about charter schools suggests that charter schools do have the potential to help teachers improve instruction. The effectiveness of charter school reforms emerges from common focus and a certain level of teacher self-determination. (SLD)

Explores how sociocultural factors involved in the manifestation and eventual disappearance of the gap for these groups may shed light on how to address the achievement gap for African American students in urban science education. (Contains 47 references.) (DDR)

Maintaining that urban teaching and learning is characterized by many contradictions, this book proposes that there is a wide range of social, cultural, psychological, and pedagogical knowledge urban educators must possess in order to engage in effective and transformative practice. It is necessary for those teaching in urban schools to be…

Used data on New York state teachers to determine how much variation in the average attributes of teachers exists across schools, identify schools with the least qualified teachers, assess changes in the distribution over time, and determine how the distribution of teachers is affected by attrition, transfer, and the matches between teachers and…

Presents a model for an urban P-16 (integrated education from preschool though college) that is meant to reshape and improve teacher education in a way driven by the involvement of major stakeholders in the community. The discussion focuses on partnering activities at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. (SLD)

Identified differences and similarities in a sample of 1,700 entry-level teachers among those who started their careers in racially/ethnically diverse schools and those who taught in schools with low levels of racial/ethnic diversity. Findings highlight the complexities of teaching in schools of high diversity. (SLD)

Notions of critical thinking are examined particularly in relation to academic success. Current debate focuses on children's lack of critical-thinking skills, especially those in urban schools. Because teachers' beliefs form the foundational basis for critical thinking, shaping attitudes and values is needed in teacher-education programs. (MMU)

Describes a 19-month, graduate, alternative teacher certification program for urban middle and high school teachers that can lead to teacher certification, or with additional coursework, a master's degree. Data from interviews and focus groups with graduate students, principals, and site mentors indicate that the program is successful in…

Presents a case analysis of the Miami-Dade Urban Systemic Initiative (MDUSI). Describes the development of a general framework for systemic reform that is used as a tool to examine the particulars of systemic reform initiatives and their potential to impact the teaching and learning of science and mathematics in diverse contexts. (Contains 27…