The Black-White Achievement Gap: Why Closing It Is the Greatest Civil Rights Issue of Our Time

For African American leaders and communities, parents, and general citizens, Paige, a former US Secretary of Education who spearheaded the No Child Left Behind Act, and Witty (education, Norfolk State U.) identify the causes and consequences of the achievement gap between black and white students in the US and propose solutions to it. Arguing that the gap is a barrier to racial equality and social justice, and focusing on education rather than politics, they trace its history, explanations, and barriers to closing it. They emphasize the need for effective leadership in the African American culture, how it has been part of the problem, and how leaders must address lower test scores; economic, social, and racial consequences; the failure of past efforts; taking responsibility; and the implications for the stigma of African American intellectual inferiority. Annotation c2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Rod Paige, PED (Houston, TX) was the U.S. Secretary of Education from 2001-2005. He served as the Superintendent of Houston Schools for 8 years and was Dean of the College of Education at Texas Southern for 10 years. He is currently the Chairman of the Chartwell Education Group, an international consultant firm.

Elaine Witty, Ed.D. (Columbia, SC) served 18 years as Dean of Education at Norfolk StateUniversity and is a noted educator.