This book enters the unexplored territory of diverse schools under urban central office management. It highlights the varied goals, political dynamics, and outcomes in different city contexts. It integrates this diversity with overarching concepts and actors, such as foundations and the federal government. It adds significant value to our understanding of school reform and parent choice. — Michael Kirst, professor emeritus, Education and Business Administration, Stanford University

Portfolio management models represent the newest approach for organizing a large urban school system. As the first significant effort to examine this new and evolving governance reform, this important book places the reform in its broader theoretical, political, and policy contexts, and provides a rich description of the four trailblazing districts now using various versions of the model. Among other things, the book makes it clear that this governance reform model, like those that have preceded it, is no panacea. — Helen F. Ladd, Edgar Thompson Professor of Public Policy, and professor of economics, Sanford School, Duke University

This thoughtful and comprehensive text on portfolio management describes both ‘how’ and ‘how well’ this new reform is working. Its comprehensive handling of the subject sets a foundation for understanding and improving this largely untested reform idea. This book brings reasoned analysis and debate to a new but largely untested model for education reform. — Gary Miron, professor of education, Western Michigan University