Detracking for Excellence and Equity

Carol Corbett Burris,

Delia T. Garrity

really liked it 4.00 · Rating details · 23 ratings · 4 reviews

Ability grouping. Leveling systems. Streaming. This is the modern way of talking about tracking -- the traditional practice of sorting and selecting students based on test scores and other criteria, and then steering these groups into the most appropriate course of study.

In 1987, New York's suburban Rockville Centre School District faced the fact that its longstanding trac Ability grouping. Leveling systems. Streaming. This is the modern way of talking about tracking -- the traditional practice of sorting and selecting students based on test scores and other criteria, and then steering these groups into the most appropriate course of study.

In 1987, New York's suburban Rockville Centre School District faced the fact that its longstanding tracking system was resulting in unequal educational opportunities and allowing racial and socioeconomic stratification of its student population. School leaders embarked on an ambitious program of reform: reexamining beliefs about intelligence, ability, and instruction, and offering all students the opportunity to study a rigorous curriculum in heterogeneous classrooms.

In this book, authors Carol Corbett Burris and Delia T. Garrity, veterans of the Rockville Centre School District, offer an experience-based and research-supported argument that detracking--implemented with planning, patience, and persistence--can do in every school district what it did in theirs: raise achievement across the board and dramatically narrow the achievement gap. Their main goal is a practical one: to provide educational leaders with proven strategies for launching, sustaining, and monitoring a successful detracking reform. Here, you'll read

* Why detracking is necessary, the benefits it brings, and how to build support among teachers and parents
* How to revise curriculum to level-up instruction
* How to establish a multiyear, personalized professional development program to help teachers address new instructional needs
* How to best support effective teaching and learning in a heterogeneous classroom

Detracking for Excellence and Equity outlines a comprehensive approach built on self-reflection, direct action, vigilant supervision, and a set of very clear beliefs: that schools and opportunity matter; that acceleration and enrichment will improve all students' achievement; and that all students deserve access to the best curriculum. ...more

Get A Copy

Paperback, 180 pages

Published August 15th 2008 by ASCD (first published August 2008)

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Detracking for Excellence and Equity, please sign up.

Be the first to ask a question about Detracking for Excellence and Equity

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

Showing 1-42

really liked it Average rating 4.00 ·

Rating details

· 23 ratings · 4 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of Detracking for Excellence and Equity

Mar 07, 2018 Chris Bates rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Intriguing commentary and a case study on providing equitable learning opportunities

Our STEM academy program accepts students who have an A or B average in 6th grade and positive teacher recommendations. I wondered if this was a form of tracking students. As I read Detracking..., I was encouraged that since our district is beginning to offer similar accelerated classes in the other junior highs that we are moving in the right direction of providing equitable learning opportunities: equal access ...more

flag Like · see review

Sep 22, 2020 Julie Markussen rated it it was amazing

Important work about equity and access in American public schools.

flag Like · see review

Oct 30, 2017 Ryan Williamson rated it really liked it

Clearly-written summary of the data that's very clear: tracking students is harmful. Contains both the research and some practical suggestions for moving forward. ...more

flag Like · see review

Aug 01, 2009 Elizabeth rated it it was amazing

Shelves: education

This is the story of how an upper middle class town in Long Island succeeded in detracking its schools. Unlike many education books, this one goes into detail on how the initiative was planned and executed, and how they solved the kinds of problems that usually derail progressive initiatives.

flag Like · see review