Table of Contents
Preface and Acknowledgments xi
Introduction 1
Part I New Orleans: Katrina Wipes the Slate Clean
Chapter 1 The Revolution 21
Chapter 2 The Schools 34
Chapter 3 The Results 54
Part II A Tale of Two Systems: Education Reform in Washington, D.C.
Chapter 4 The Birth of Charter Schools in D.C. 83
Chapter 5 Michelle Rhee Brings in Her Broom 95
Chapter 6 The Charter Board Gets Serious About Quality 103
Chapter 7 Comparing the Charter and Traditional Sectors 113
Part III Denver: An Elected School Board Adopts a 21st Century Strategy
Chapter 8 The Mile-High City Embraces Charter Schools 141
Chapter 9 Delivering Results 161
Chapter 10 Denver's Remaining Challenges 184
Part IV The Revolution Spreads
Chapter 11 Other Cities Embrace the 21st Century Model 199
Part V The Keys to Success
Chapter 12 The DNA of 21st Century Systems 223
Chapter 13 You Get What You Measure: Defining School Quality in 21st Century Systems 249
Chapter 14 Strategy: Getting from Here to There 278
Appendix A Measuring School Performance in New Orleans, Washington, D.C., and Denver 299
Appendix B What We Should Learn from Denver's Experience with Performance Pay 315
Appendix C Other Districts Pursuing 21st Century Strategies 319
Endnotes 333
Index 395