This digest reviews educational policies and practices that have been proven effective in closing the achievement gap, offering a list of resources with detailed information about them. The digest focuses on state and district roles (e.g., developing and implementing educational goals, rigorous standards, and accountability standards and providing human resources materials necessary for student success); early childhood development initiatives (providing high-quality preschool programs, parent education programs, and family literacy programs); school climate (e.g., actively promoting the expectation that all children can succeed, identifying and developing every student's potential, and recognizing diverse cultures); school organization (providing full desegregation, smaller classes, and equitable grouping of students); teaching and learning (e.g., providing increased instructional time, using challenging curricula and instructional strategies, and providing access to college-based programs); school management (e.g., recruiting and retaining highly-qualified teachers and administrators, providing ongoing professional development, and encouraging parents' high expectations); and community involvement (e.g., maintaining a culture where learning and achievement are valued, providing learning opportunities, and maintaining active school partnerships). (SM)