Helping Children Succeed: What Works and Why by Paul Tough uses abundant research to show how the environments of poor children puts them at a great disadvantage when the start school, and how schools often makes things worse thanks to inappropriate pedagogy. There as also a lot of great advice regarding how to fight this pernicious cycle. See that any leader and policy maker you know gets this excellent book.

50 Myths & Lies That Threaten America’s Public Schools: The Real Crisis in Education by David C. Berliner, Gene Glass, and Associates takes on many myths that have support amongst reformers and the media. This is a must read for anyone fighting the madness of our current test-and-punish school reform system. Give a copy to any policy maker you know.