Building Bridges from High Poverty Communities, to Schools, to Productive Citizenship

More than 20% of all children in the United States live in poverty. This is particularly troubling given the associated risks of poverty to childrens social, emotional, and behavioral well-being; risks that have the potential to negatively impact childrens lives in and out of school. This book considers the impact of poverty on education, the unique needs of students from high poverty backgrounds, and strategies that hold promise in successfully educating students from high poverty backgrounds. There is a tremendous need for a practical model of school leadership aimed at bridging the gap between high poverty schools and communities, in order to lessen the effects of poverty on children and youths educational and life experiences. The authors call this exceptional educational leadership, an approach that centers on the moral and ethical imperative to act in the best interests of children, youth, and their families.