Education reform in the '90s

In the wake of the controversial first wave of education reform that swept the United States during the 1980s, observers are beginning to see an incipient second wave. However, in contrast to the marginal changes that dominated the education reform scene of the 1980s, the current wave is propelled by a long-term plan of fundamental, structural improvement. Instead of merely modifying the existing educational system, reformers are calling for a revolutionary restructuring of the education enterprise. Education Reform in the '90s is a contributed work written by leading educators, under the joint auspices of the Educational Excellence Network of Vanderbilt University and the National Conference of State Legislatures. It provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the new restructuring phenomenon and places it in the context of the history of American education and its previous cycles of reform. It is intended for everyone interested in improving the educational system, including state legislators, school administrators, professors, parents, and concerned citizens. The nine chapters of the book are divided into five sections that explore the major issues in education reform.