Narrated by Sarah Jones Directed, Produced, Photographed and Edited by Robbie Leppzer Original Music by Oliver Johnson A Turning Tide Production 111 minutes • DVD Viewable in 18 chapters which range in length from 3 to 19 minutes Watch A Video Excerpt

       For many years, America has faced a crisis in urban education. Too many urban schools suffer from low test scores, unsafe environments, and high dropout rates. The stark achievement gap between public schools in U.S. cities and those in affluent suburbs is perhaps the leading civil rights issue of our time, with the fate of millions of children determined simply by where they live.

       In Massachusetts, charter schools were created 15 years ago as part of a comprehensive education reform effort to address this gap. They are public schools that operate independent of local school districts and are free of charge. In exchange for the freedom to innovate, charter schools must demonstrate improved student achievement, or risk being shut down.

       BEATING THE ODDS takes us inside five high-performing urban charter schools in the Boston area that serve mostly low-income, Black and Latino students, many of whom are several grade levels behind academically when they enroll. These schools set records for achievement and send the vast majority of their students on to college.

        How do these schools deliver on the fundamental promise of equal educational opportunity, particularly for historically under-served, urban students?  What lessons do they offer?  How are these schools helping to turn around the crisis in urban education?

        Through interviews with students, teachers, and school leaders, as well as scenes depicting daily life inside the classroom and at school-wide events, BEATING THE ODDS presents an engaging examination of what makes these schools successful.

        BEATING THE ODDS will be of interest to anyone concerned with education and educational reform, including teachers, public school administrators, college professors of education, college students pursuing education degrees, education reform advocates, and parents.

        Filmmaker Robbie Leppzer is available for speaking engagements on college campuses with
BEATING THE ODDS. For more information about speaking presentations, click here.

•  Watch An Excerpt of BEATING THE ODDS

RECOMMENDED SUBJECT AREAS

Education • Educational Reform • Teacher Training and Professional Development • Multicultural Issues • Urban Issues • Civil Rights • Sociology

BEATING THE ODDS
111 minutes • DVD

• Viewable in 18 chapters which range in length from 3 to 19 minutes

Purchase Price
• Individuals - $29.95
• Community Organizations
   (Public Libraries, High Schools, and Community Groups) - $99
• Institutions (Colleges and Universities) - $249

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