Educational Innovations Series

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
2012 "Districts in Research and Reform" Publication Award, American Educational Research Association (AERA)
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.”
ORDER
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.”
ORDER
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.
ORDER
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.
ORDER
The Global Challenge of Educating High-Ability Students
Chester E. Finn, Jr. and Brandon L. Wright
2016 Outstanding Academic Title, Choice
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.
ORDER
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.
ORDER
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.
ORDER
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.
ORDER
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.
ORDER
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.
ORDER