Leave no child behind : preparing today's youth for tomorrow's world / James P. Comer ; foreword by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [307]-312) and index.

Right church, wrong pew -- Voices from the school house -- Change and challlenges -- The new world -- Living in and learning about schools - The framework -- Development, learning, and democracy -- But can it fly? -- Flight school -- Flight -- The price we pay -- To leave no child behind.

The call-to-arms to leave no child behind in America has become popularly associated with the Bush administrations education plana plan that actually diverges greatly from the ideals of the Childrens Defense Fund, which originated the concept. Here, in a bold and engaging new book, Dr. James Comer reclaims this now-famous exhortation as a tool for positive and substantive change. Far removed from the federal governments focus on standardized testing as the panacea for our educational ills, Dr. Comers argumentdrawn from his own experiences as the creator of the School Development Programurges teachers, policymakers, and parents alike to work toward creating a new kind of school environment. In so doing, Dr. Comer reignites a crucial debate as he details the evolution and many successes of his School Development Program since its inception thirty-five years ago, and he illustrates how his model for change has proven effective in public schools throughout the country. Most important, he offers proof that students from all backgrounds can learn at a high level, adopt positive behavioral attitudes, and prepare for a fulfilling adult life, if they learn in schools that provide adequate support for their complete development--schools that know that leaving no child behind should be much more than just a convenient political slogan.