A Light Shines in Harlem tells the story of the Sisulu-Walker Charter School of Harlem, the first charter school in New York. It is an inspirational tale of how a hero of the civil rights movement, a Wall Street star, educators, activists, parents, and students all joined together to create a groundbreaking school that, in its best years, far outperformed other schools in the neighborhoods in which most of its children lived. This book also discusses the most recent research and issues facing the charter movement and how lessons from them can be applied to other schools.