This guide advocates making strategic decisions about instructional practices and focusing all school staff on aligning every aspect of school operations--from professional development to parent and community involvement--in order to support and sustain student achievement. The guide discusses how to set high standards for performance and presents some strategies for improving student learning. Some of these strategies include helping schools gain control of the learning environment, concentrating resources and efforts on providing students with challenging curriculum, and providing services so that young children come to school ready to learn. Meaningful improvement involves systemic support for the process of change, and suggestions for nurturing this support are given. Schools must have strong leadership and policies that encourage teachers' commitment to reform use resources strategically. This guide also presents aid from the U.S. Department of Education available to chronically low-performing schools. A checklist for improvement and suggestions for school leaders to improve their schools are offered. (RJM)