The articles in this book examine the prominent elements of the Improving America's Schools Act, including the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). They describe how the large federal aid-to-education programs were brought into accord with the new agreement contained in Goals 2000. The book begins with a preface by Douglas Bedient and Michael D. Usdan, an introduction by John F. Jennings, and "Commentary on the Nature of an Omnibus Bill" (John F. Jennings). Part 1 reviews the general debate that occurred and the direction of the changes. Articles include: (1) "The Improving America's Schools Act: A New Partnership" (Marshall S. Smith, Brett W. Scoll, and Valena White Plisko); (2) "A Nickel on the Dollar" (Richard P. Mills); and (3) "Reinventing Education in the Image of the Great Society" (Bruno V. Manno). Changes in the Chapter 1 program, now called Title I, are described in part 2. Articles include: (4) "Improving America's Schools for Children in Greatest Need" (Thomas W. Payzant and Jessica Levin); and (5) "Making Schools Work for Children in Poverty" (Kati Haycock and David Hornbeck). Articles in part 3 describe the changes made in some of the other major programs: (6) "Professional Development and Education Reform" (Thomas C. Sawyer); (7) "The Chapter 2 Program" (Steve Gunderson); (8) "Beyond Ideology: Educating Language-Minority Children through the ESEA" (Xavier Becerra); (9) "Bilingual Education and the Future of America" (Tony Roth); (10) "Impact Aid: Education's Bramble Bush" (Claiborne Pell); and (11) "The 1994 Reauthorization of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act" (Christopher J. Dodd). The fourth part describes two opposing views of the social amendments that were considered in the debate on ESEA: (12) "The Reauthorization of ESEA" (Gary L. Bauer); and (13) "The Holy War on the 'Unholy' Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1994" (John H. Buchanan). References accompany some chapters. (LMI)