Daily News Op-Ed on Poverty and Education

Schools can help students and their families through partnerships with community organizations, according to Noguera.

He cites a promising new initiative in Newark, the Newark Global Village Zone, which includes partnerships between seven schools and local universities. Hospitals, nonprofits, churches and city agencies will work with the schools to provide services and support community and parent engagement. The Newark effort is based in part on the Harlem Children's Zone in New York City.

"We believe that by addressing the academic and nonacademic needs of students, extending learning opportunities and improving the quality of instruction, student achievement will improve," he writes.

• Read the full article on the Daily News website.

Pedro A. Noguera is the Executive Director of the Metropolitan Center for Urban Education and a professor in the Steinhardt School of Education at New York University.