Once changes or innovations reach the tipping point, they spread throughout an organization and become entrenched as part of the culture, becoming "just the way we do things around here." These authors see the tipping point at play with systemic improvement in two urban school districts with which they have worked. Here, they describe…

Although many superintendents remain leery of the charter reform movement, some (in Flagstaff, Arizona; Springfield, Massachusetts; and San Carlos, California), see beyond threats to a districtwide innovation model. Taking charters' lead, Flagstaff opened a magnet school and a full-day kindergarten. Another superintendent chartered his entire…

Because teacher pay is by far the largest part of most school districts' operating budgets (often 50 to 70 percent), it is compelling to ask if those dollars can be linked to improving teacher quality and, ultimately, student performance. Improving teacher quality means ensuring that: (1) All teachers have sufficient knowledge, skills and…