Between Public and Private

Politics, Governance, and the New Portfolio Models for Urban School Reform

Edited by Katrina E. Bulkley, Jeffrey R. Henig, and Henry M. Levin, foreword by Larry Cuban

Between Public and Private examines an innovative approach to school district managment that has been adopted by a number of uban disctricts in recent years: a portfolio management model, in which “a central office oversees a portfolio of schools offering diverse organizational and curricular themes, including traditional public schools, private organizations, and charter schools.”

Bringing School Reform to Scale

Five Award-Winning Urban Districts

Heather Zavadsky, foreword by Thomas Payzant

Bringing School Reform to Scale looks in detail at five school districts that have been honored in recent years by The Broad Foundation, whose annual award is granted “each year to the urban school districts that demonstrate the greatest overall performance and improvement in student achievement while reducing achievement gaps among poor and minority students.”

Cage-Busting Leadership

Frederick M. Hess

A practical and entertaining volume, Cage-Busting Leadership will be of profound interest and value to school and district leaders—and to everyone with a stake in school improvement.

Customized Schooling

Beyond Whole-School Reform

Edited by Frederick M. Hess and Bruno V. Manno

Customized Schooling aims to reorient discussions about school reform by moving away from “whole school” solutions to customized services and products.

Failing Our Brightest Kids

The Global Challenge of Educating High-Ability Students

Chester E. Finn, Jr. and Brandon L. Wright

In this provocative volume, Chester E. Finn, Jr., and Brandon L. Wright argue that, for decades, the United States has done too little to focus on educating students to achieve at high levels. The authors identify two core problems: First, compared to other countries, the United States does not produce enough high achievers. Second, students from disadvantaged backgrounds are severely underrepresented among those high achievers. The authors describe educating students to high levels of achievement as an issue of both equity and human capital: talented students deserve appropriate resources and attention, and the nation needs to develop these students’ abilities to remain competitive in the international arena.

Policy Patrons

Philanthropy, Education Reform, and the Politics of Influence

Megan E. Tompkins-Stange, Foreword by Robert B. Schwartz

Policy Patrons offers a rare behind-the-scenes view of decision making inside four influential education philanthropies: the Ford Foundation, the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation. The outcome is an intriguing, thought-provoking look at the impact of current philanthropic efforts on education.

School Turnarounds

The Essential Role of Districts

Heather Zavadsky, foreword by Steven J. Adamowski

The inspiration for this book was a crucial observation: that if the school turnaround movement is to have widespread and lasting consequences, it will need to incorporate meaningful district involvement in its efforts.

Stretching the School Dollar

How Schools and Districts Can Save Money While Serving Students Best

Edited by Frederick M. Hess and Eric Osberg

Simultaneous pressures to reduce costs and increase student achievement have never been greater than they are today. Not only is cost-cutting essential in this era of tightened resources, argue Hess and Osberg, but eliminating inefficient spending is critical for freeing up resources to drive school reform.

Teacher Quality 2.0

Toward a New Era in Education Reform

Edited by Frederick M. Hess and Michael Q. McShane

Debates over teacher quality are among the most heated exchanges in the education reform arena. But while scholars and policy makers grapple with questions about teacher preparation, compensation, and evaluation, the role of teachers is changing. In schools across the country, educators are experimenting with new models for recruiting, training, and supporting teachers, and are innovating strategies for deploying their talents through differentiated roles and the use of technology. Most of the policy measures currently under consideration, however, are designed with a one-size-fits-all approach.

The Cage-Busting Teacher

Frederick M. Hess

The Cage-Busting Teacher adopts the logic of Cage-Busting Leadership and applies it to the unique challenges and opportunities of classroom teachers. Detailed, accessible, and thoroughly engaging, it uncovers the many ways in which teachers can break out of familiar constraints in order to influence school and classroom practice, education policy, and school reform. “Cage-busting is concrete, precise, and practical,” writes Frederick M. Hess. This invaluable book helps teachers understand why and how to revisit their assumptions and enables them to have greater impacts upon their schools and beyond.
 
Based on interviews with hundreds of teachers, teacher advocates, union leaders, and others, Hess identifies the challenges teachers face, seeks concrete and workable solutions, and offers recommendations to put those solutions in place. A uniquely practical and inspiring book, The Cage-Busting Teacher is for educators who want to shape the schools and systems in which they work.