New Book: A Taxpayer’s Guide to School Reforms

Posted by on January 29, 2007

[posted from Public Education Network newsblast]

EDUCATION REFORM: CUTTING THROUGH THE HYPE

Can school reform become a powerful force for a stronger public education system or is it destined to be a battleground for polarized positions? Jane David and Larry Cuban?s new book shows what it takes to make reform ideas actually work. The authors analyze 20 different “hot” reforms from mayoral reform and parent choice to teaching reading and math, showing how each good idea can be strengthened by a better understanding of how it is translated into policies and in turn policies into classrooms. They urge policymakers and reformers to ask: Does the reform make sense? Can the reform actually work in classrooms? Are the conditions for success in place? Peter Schrag calls it “the most sensible book about education reform — its possibilities and its limits — to appear in a generation” and suggests “every would-be school fixer should read it.” The Education Gadfly describes is as a “book is for those befuddled by edu-jargon, or simply unfamiliar with the latest in education policy. It’s a primer that gives good background information and . . . smartly evaluates recent education reforms.” To read sample chapters and reviews:

http://cuttingthroughthehype.com/