A Theoretical Review of Urban Education Systems and Reforms

Different types of educational systems and reforms have contributed to the ongoing analysis of the limitations and possibilities of improving urban education. These limitations and possibilities are especially evident with respect to the arguably futile attempts to reduce the achievement gap between urban and suburban students, as well as the gap between African-American and Latino students, on the one hand, and White and Asian students on the other. This paper will discuss educational systems, their organizations and processes, evidence of their effectiveness, and evidence of their limitations, while referencing theories that best support the evidence.

Soribel Genao earned her PhD from the School of Public Affairs and Administration at Rutgers University-Newark. Her research interests: education policy, collaborative measurement. Asia Robinson-Etkins is a New York City public school teacher with extensive training in differentiated instruction, curriculum mapping, understanding by design.