College Now! What Needs to be Done to Give Urban Students a Real Path to Success

Book excerpt: This remarkable, first-hand account reveals the impediments and challenges to educating inner-city secondary students when so much is arrayed against them and how believing in all kids helped save a school and change education in the state of Colorado. In 2 years, Principal Scott Mendelsberg took his school from a 17% to a 73% college matriculation rate. He didn’t get new teachers, a new building, different kids, or a new curriculum. He just made sure students realized that college was an option for them. Advance Praise for College Now! “Through funny, sad, and triumphant stories, Mendelsberg lays out the power of high expectations; the need to support and hold educators accountable; and the strategies for creating a learning environment that embraces rigor and engagement. Additionally, he makes the case for competency-based learning with digital resources, self-paced learning, and performance gateways where students demonstrate readiness.” —From the Foreword by Tom Vander Ark, CEO of Getting Smart “School reform, up close and personal from the desk of a principal. Lively. Insightful. Honest.” —Brad Jupp, Senior Program Advisor, United States Department of Education “If you’re suffering a bit from reform fatigue and wondering whether anything works in really changing schools, you must absolutely read this book because it will give you renewed hope.” —David Longanecker, executive director, Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education, and former Assistant Secretary of Education under President Clinton "Scott is truly a ‘principal's principal.’ His experience in the urban high school setting provides new principals with a guide for exploring their own thinking about how to lead their schools in increasing studentachievement.” —Lynn Fair, principal, Aurora Central High School, Aurora, CO “Brilliant! With the skill of a master storyteller, Scott Mendelsberg has written a primer for all school administrators. His grasp of leadership principles is keen and his insights right on the mark, making College Now! a must-read for educators.” —Mike Miles, superintendent, Dallas Independent School District