The Detroit Public Schools (DPS) have been battered by substantial outside forces over the last decade. The school system was taken over by the state; its elected school board was dissolved and replaced by an appointed body; its many operating systems were privatized; its citizenry were encouraged to flee to charter schools; and its resources have been cut. The strains on the system have been unlike those experienced by almost any other urban school system in the nation. Some problems were addressed, although not solved, in the five years that the district was under state control; other problems may have been made worse. The Council of Great City Schools was called upon for an outside perspective on some of the most serious issues facing the district and how to approach them. Findings include declining student achievement; an instructional program driven by textbooks and other purchased programs rather than by state standards; poor professional development, precarious financial standing; a procurement and contracting system without direction; information technology systems that put the entire school system at risk; and no long-range master facilities plan. This report includes proposals for instructional, organizational management, and operational changes to improve achievement, effectiveness, and efficiency in all areas. Seven chapters comprise this report. The report begins with an overview of the issues facing the Detroit Public Schools as it works to improve student achievement and strengthen management and operations. It includes a brief outline of the proposals that the Council and its Strategic Support Teams are making. Chapter 1 presents an overview of the Detroit Public Schools, its student performance, and overall spending patterns. Chapter 2 presents the findings of the Strategic Support Team on instruction and its recommendations for improving student achievement. Chapter 3 presents the findings and recommendations on budget and finance operations. Chapter 4 summarizes the findings and recommendations on procurement. Chapter 5 presents the findings and recommendations on information technology. Chapter 6 presents findings and recommendations on facilities. Finally, Chapter 7 provides a synopsis and discussion of the entire report. Eight appendixes are included: (1) MEAP Achievement Data; (2) Budget Survey; (3) District and School Staffing Definitions; (4) Individuals Interviewed; (5) Documents Reviewed; (6) Strategic Support Teams; (7) Working Agendas; and (8) About the Council. (Contains 70 footnotes and 42 exhibits.)