A host of opposing forces-not a failure of will, goals or effort-is what's retarding urban schools, writes ace journalist Richard Whitmire in the Democratic Leadership Council's Blueprint Magazine. Time is running out for urban schools, which must battle budget cuts, revolving door leadership, concentrated poverty, and successful suburban districts' resistance to standards and accountability. But substantial gains in districts like Charlotte, Sacramento, and Houston prove that, with innovation and visionary leadership, demographics are not destiny. "Time Is Running Out on Urban Schools," by Richard Whitmire, Blueprint Magazine, July 29, 2002
