"Equity is not ensuring that all children receive the same thing, but ensuring that every child gets what he or she needs in order to succeed. Pedro Noguera and Alan Blankstein provide examples of how courageous Americans are taking this charge head on by illustrating how excellence through equity can be achieved. To ignore this issue means to undermine the future of our children. This book is a must-read for teachers, principals, administrators, policy and business leaders and parents-or anyone interested in becoming champions for children and strengthening our nation's public education agenda."
-- Daniel A. Domenech, Executive Director
"Pedro Noguera's and Alan Blankstein's book should be on the shelf of every school leader and community member who is committed to providing exceptional educational opportunities for all. Excellence through Equity is a well written combination of research, philosophical approaches, and practical effective implementations."
-- Luvelle Brown, Superintendent
"In the United States, as population decreases and the percentage of poverty levels of children increases, it is critical that policy maker, schools, and communities galvanize their work toward equitable educational outcomes for our children. This book provides a range of perspectives that will inform the work and inspire courage in those that can make it happen."
-- Merrianne Dyer, Education Consultant
"Amidst the confusion created by a highly polarized country, sound educational policies and practices have become as uncommon as bipartisanship. In the cacophony that marks the current education debates, Noguera and Blankstein demonstrate that there need not be a choice between excellence and equity but that the two are complementary and necessary. Their stories of school transformation told by teachers and other leaders are compelling and show us the way to a new paradigm."
-- Rosa Aronson, Executive Director
"Excellence through Equity is an exemplary look at how educators across the country are tackling today's issue of equity to ensure all students not only have the opportunity to learn but excel. A great read for all those interested in providing the best possible education to all students!"
-- Greg Wolcott, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning
"This book provides timely insights and powerful examples that educational equity and excellence is necessary and possible. In addition, the stories of courageous leadership and persistence amplify what is required from each of us to achieve sustainable and lasting change in public education."
-- Victor Cary, Senior Director
"Education is not something we do to children; it is something we do with children. Children are the travelers on an educational journey. We are the tour guides. Each traveler comes with a different set of luggage and as a tour guide we need to help provide them with the best accommodations, modifications and enrichments to help them maximize their journey. As they send out their postcards, we want to make sure each is full of equal opportunities! You see these are our future tour guides and they will design future destinations for the travelers who come."
-- Brenda Yoho, Director of Education Support Programs
"This book comes at a time when we are experiencing unprecedented inequality throughout American society and, in particular, in education. The recommendations in this book, if implemented at the state, federal and school district level, could change the trajectory in which we are now heading that threatens to create a social tsunami that will impacts the lives of every citizen in America."
-- Bolgen Vargas, Superintendent of Schools
The twin goals of equity and excellence have been illusive in schools serving children of color, immigrant children, poor children, and children whose first language is other than English. Illusive not because they are unattainable but because we have lacked the political will to provide the necessary resources and to recognize the many talents and cultural 'funds of knowledge' students bring from their homes and communities. This volume is filled with "existence proofs" that demonstrate that some dedicated teachers, principals, and communities have (and continue to) meet those goals. This book gives new (and certainly less punitive and strident) meaning to the notion of "no excuses." It is a must read. -- Gloria Ladson-Billings, Professor
"A movement is born out of the convergence of dire conditions, a powerful idea, and people committed to carrying out that idea.
This landmark (work) by Alan M. Blankstein and Pedro Noguera, may be a catalyst to such a movement." -- Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu
