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What exactly is the achievement gap and why is it important to identify schools that are closing it? The authors address some of the complexities of defining the achievement gap and argue that reform efforts could benefit from using state data to identify and learn from schools succeeding in narrowing the gap. Pointing out potential pitfalls in defining and measuring the gap, the authors raise questions about which gaps count and urge researchers and policy makers to proceed with caution. Nonetheless, state data, properly used, can potentially yield a wealth of information helpful in efforts to raise student achievement.(4pp.)