A heated debate is raging over our nation’s public schools and how they should be reformed, with proposals ranging from imposing national standards to replacing public education altogether with a voucher system for private schools. Combining decades of experience in education, the authors propose an innovative approach to solving the problems of our school system and find a middle ground between these extremes. Reinventing Public Education shows how contracting would radically change the way we operate our schools, while keeping them public and accessible to all, and making them better able to meet standards of achievement and equity. Using public funds, local school boards would select private providers to operate individual schools under formal contracts specifying the type and quality of instruction. In a hands-on, concrete fashion, the authors provide a thorough explanation of the pros and cons of school contracting and how it would work in practice. They show how contracting would free local school boards from operating schools so they can focus on improving educational policy; how it would allow parents to choose the best school for their children; and, finally, how it would ensure that schools are held accountable and academic standards are met. While retaining a strong public role in education, contracting enables schools to be more imaginative, adaptable, and suited to the needs of children and families. In presenting an alternative vision for America’s schools, Reinventing Public Education is too important to be ignored.

Leading experts in the fields of science, mathematics and education present a plan for improving mathematics, science and technology education for all American elementary and secondary students so that their achievement is the best in the world by 1995. The Commission believes that while individual American schools and students excel in science and mathematics, the average American student is said to need a much firmer grounding at the elementary and secondary school levels. It notes that the most serious problem is a severe shortage of qualified teachers. Makes a number of recommendations and calls for stronger leadership on this issue through such means as a National Education Council reporting to the President.