A light shines in Harlem : New York's first charter school and the movement it led
(Book)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

"A Light Shines in Harlem tells the fascinating history of New York's first charter school, the Sisulu-Walker Charter School of Harlem, and the early days of the state's charter-school movement. It is a penetrating look at the real world of education reform--the hundreds of small decisions and big risks that go into making a school succeed. And it imparts an inside view, through the involvement of a hero of the civil rights movement, a Wall Street star, inner-city activists, educators, parents, and students, who all came together to create a groundbreaking school that, in its best years, far outperformed public schools in the neighborhoods in which most of its children lived. But this book also looks at education reform through a broader lens, discussing recent research and issues facing the charter movement today. It answers two fundamental questions: What makes a school succeed or fail? And how can these lessons be applied to other schools to make them better? The result is not only a gripping narrative of how one school fought to succeed despite the odds but also an illuminating glimpse into the future of American education"--,Provided by publisher.