We need to have teacher salaries be competitive with other professions that have similar education levels. We need better working conditions and facilities. And we need clear and consistent expectations, academic standards and discipline. What typically happens is that you have a new superintendent or administrator every three years, so you have a new program that lasts three years, then it is thrown out with the bath water. Then another new superintendent or administrator comes along and you have another program.
Students live in poverty.
Parents may not speak English and don't know how to help their children. The key to student achievement in lower socioeconomic areas is positive parental involvement. When there is good parental involvement, you have higher student achievement. School districts, administrators and the local teacher association need to work together to promote positive parental involvement. We need to boost teacher salaries to get better teachers in urban schools.