Reforming Schools will transform the study of school reform, development and improvement. It not only provides an overview of research findings, professional and political issues, and policy developments and their history; it also relates such thinking to practice, through a rich and multi-faceted case study of school reform. Particular emphasis is given to urban schooling, with a candid look at what can be learned not only from successful school reforms but also from failure. Throughout the book, readers are guided by questions, points for reflection and hypothetical exercises that facilitate interaction with case study material. This book enables the reader to experience what it is like to be involved in the field as no other book on school reform does. This is the first true textbook in this area, written in an accessible style and supported by thought-provoking questions and useful exercises.