Organizing Schools for Improvement: Lessons from Chicago

by Anthony S. Bryk, Penny Bender Sebring, Elaine Allensworth

In 1988, the Chicago public school system decentralized, granting parents and communities significant resources and authority to reform their schools in dramatic ways. To track the effects of this bold experiment, the authors of Organizing Schools for Improvement collected a wealth of data on elementary schools in Chicago. Over a seven-year period they identified one hundred elementary schools that had substantially improved—and one hundred that had not. What did the successful schools do to accelerate student learning?

The authors of this illuminating book identify a comprehensive set of practices and conditions that were key factors for improvement, including school leadership, the professional capacity of the faculty and staff, and a student-centered learning climate. In addition, they analyze the impact of social dynamics, including crime, critically examining the inextricable link between schools and their communities. Putting their data onto a more human scale, they also chronicle the stories of two neighboring schools with very different trajectories. The lessons gleaned from this groundbreaking study will be invaluable for anyone involved with urban education.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, School, Grad School

317 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone interested in school reform or improvement ought to read this book. In my years of teaching, these 5 essential supports have proven to be...essential. The details on how the different supports interact to bring about change is also important.

[Mills College Library]

371.20909 O688 2010

[University of Chicago Magazine]

Stuart Luppescu, PhD’96, and John Q. Easton, PhD’81
Coauthors

From our pages (Mar–Apr/10): "When the Chicago Public Schools decentralized in 1988, parents and communities gained significant funding and decision-making responsibilities. Tracking the effects of this process in elementary schools, the authors identify five factors—such as school leadership and parent-community ties—that lead to school development and analyze community conditions that cause classroom stagnation."

Plus—
Book learning: A Chicago study defines five key factors to predict educational success.
http://magazine.uchicago.edu/1004/chi...

[Miah D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of statistics. I need a stats course to understand a lot of it. Focused on the decentralization of the Chicago school system in the 90s, which led to some schools higher achievement.

[Colin Higbee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately, the book was the equivalent of giving someone with an interest in learning more about how to use computers a book on electrical engineering.

[Lorette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic -

[Kristen Downey · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Phi Delta Kappan article (April 2010) is a succinct and clear summary of Bryk's findings. But if you have more time and tolerance for DRY writing... it's a fascinating read.