Making the Grade.

CLASS & Schools: Using Social, Economic & Educational Reform to Close the Black-White Achievement Gap (Book); ROTHSTEIN, Richard; EDUCATION; CHILD development; HOME environment; COMMUNITY education

The article presents the book "Class and Schools: Using Social, Economic, and Educational Reform to Close the Black-White Achievement Gap," by Richard Rothstein. The book makes a fairly simple argument: how well children do in school is not just, or not even mainly, the result of how good their teacher is, or curriculum, or school management. Children's family and community environment continues to play a crucial role in their school achievement and attainment. Family profoundly affects children's early development, including their physical development, exposure to language, and a host of behavioral factors that influence school performance.