Gross inequities are evident in this nation and in virtually every component of the nation’s system of public education. Inequities fall unevenly on those who come from lower socio-economic backgrounds and/or who are ethnic/linguistic/racial minorities. These inequities include differences in financial support, school re-segregation, and restricted opportunities to learn. The result is diminished educational progress and academic achievement. Addressing these issues requires a vision of schools as they might be and then a plan of action. While it won’t be easy, guided by a vision of the possibilities and responsibilities of schools deeply rooted in democratic, social justice principles, educational renewal must take place to move from schooling as the dark to schooling as the light in students’ lives.