Justin A. Collins Books

Quantifying student engagement at the classroom level provides teachers and administrators with critical insights into educational quality. The book offers data-driven guidance for educational leaders to identify areas for improvement. John Deasy emphasizes that enhancing higher-order thinking and reducing disengagement leads to significant and lasting increases in test scores, regardless of a school district's socioeconomic status. This approach revitalizes the promise of the American dream while avoiding extra financial strain on already limited budgets.

Focusing on the often-overlooked aspect of student engagement, the book highlights its crucial role in educational reform. It emphasizes that despite its significance, this element has been largely ignored in reform discussions and strategies. By bringing attention to student engagement, the author advocates for its measurement and incorporation into future reform plans to enhance educational outcomes.

Focusing on school funding practices, the book examines whether they meet the equity and adequacy standards set by policymakers and the public. It highlights a neglect of student engagement due to a narrow view of funding formulas, leading to disappointing educational outcomes despite increased funding. The author advocates for reform centered on classroom interactions, emphasizing that improving instructional and engagement behaviors requires significant effort rather than just financial investment.

This book presents a timely discussion for educational leaders, policymakers, and the interested public of how students engage subject matter.