This important book provides African American parents with the knowledge to diversify K-12 school choices beyond traditional neighborhood public schools in order to optimize the educational chances of their own children, and it will help educators and policymakers to close the black-white academic achievement gap throughout America. Closing the K-12 achievement gap is critical to the future welfare of African American individuals, families, and communities-and to the future of our nation as a whole. The black-white academic achievement gap-the significant statistical difference in academic performance between African American students and their white peers-is the single greatest impediment to achieving racial equality and social justice in America. Black Educational Choice provides parents, citizens, educators, and policymakers the critical knowledge they need to leverage the national trend toward increasing and diversifying K-12 school choice beyond traditional neighborhood public schools. Parents can use this information to optimize the success of their own African American children, while policymakers and educators can apply these insights to help close the black-white academic achievement gap throughout America. The book collects the interdisciplinary, multi-racial, and multi-ethnic perspectives of education experts to address the questions of millions of anxious African American families: "Would sending our children to a private school or a charter school significantly better their chances of closing the achievement gap and becoming successful individuals? And if so, what kinds of challenges would they likely experience in these alternative educational settings?" Contributions from distinguished scholars and their apprentices from education and other diverse fields in the social and behavioral sciences

Since 1970 increasing percentages of Black students have enrolled in all types of private schools in diverse, though predominantly urban, regions of the nation. Since more than 90 percent of all Black students receive instruction in public schools, it is perhaps not surprising that researchers have paid scant attention to the educational status of the minority who have attended independently funded schools. The authors of this book present the first systematic treatment of the subject, looking at all aspects of the educational experiences of the Black children in private and parochial schools, and they explore the implications of private schooling for educational policy and future research. The editors' introduction provides an overview of the educational situation of Black children, focusing on the interface between the children, their families, and academic achievement in their schools. The organization of the volume reflects the diversity of private school types attended by Black children. Issues discussed are related to Black parent and student experiences in desegregated elite private schools, parochial schools, and predominantly Black private schools. The parental involvement in the schools is addressed as well as alternative types of organizational support systems for the Black students. Also discussed are the findings of recent research and information related to Educational Policy issues: research related to parental choice of private schooling, research on the racial coping strategies of parents of children in predominantly Black independent schools, educational policy issues and implications, for both private and public schools. The volume concludes with discussion oftheoretical and research issues associated with the policy implications of their experiences for both public and private education.