More than seven years ago, President George W. Bush signed No Child Left Behind (NCLB) into law. Sweeping calls for testing, intervening in persistently low-performing schools, and policing teacher quality made it the most ambitious legislation on K-12 schooling in American history. The law, due for congressional reauthorization in 2007, still…

Summary of Koret Task Force report on the state of elementary/secondary education. Highlights findings of 1983 National Commission on Excellence in Education report "A Nation at Risk" and the response thereto. Discusses why educational change efforts have resulted in so little improvement in student performance. Highlights findings and…

Argues that three major educational reform efforts since "Risk," overlooked or underappreciated by Koret Task Force, are now seeing results: State standards and accountability, advances in research on cognitive development of young children, and efforts to improve teacher quality. Disagrees with task-force assertion that more money will…

Describes efforts to implement standards-based reform in the Houston School District using both a top-down and a bottom-up approach, where local schools were allowed considerable autonomy in achieving reform, but given direction, training, and resources by the district. (PKP)