Education reform does not come easily. Thomas Jefferson was a three-time loser before achieving success in his old age. Nevertheless, several education reform efforts have triumphed over indifference, inertia, and opposition, to alter the face and character of American schooling. This book examines seven reform efforts initiated over the past two centuries. It probes the social and economic forces that pushed them, the motives of the reformers and their opponents, and the strategies used by both. In the final chapters, the author infers lessons from the cases and applies them to three major education reform efforts of the early 21st century, predicting their chances of success and offering suggestions for improving their prospects. The book will be of interest to all who are concerned about improving American education--parents, teachers, administrators, business people, and policy makers.

The Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) in the U.S. Department of Education has a mandate for expanding knowledge of teaching and learning and for improving education in this country. This book focuses on how OERI can better fulfill that mission in light of what is known about why prior education reforms have often failed, what is needed to enhance the effectiveness of such efforts, and what education research and development can contribute to better schools. The history, mission, governance, organization, functions, operations, and budgets of OERI are analyzed. Recommendations are made for restructuring OERI, expanding funding, involving scholars from many fields, and engaging teachers and school principals in improvement efforts.