Education Governance for the Twenty-First Century

Paul Manna is associate professor in the Department of Government and the Thomas Jefferson Program in Public Policy at the College of William & Mary. Patrick McGuinn is associate professor of political science and education at Drew University.

"McGuinn, Manna, and their fellow authors ask this fundamental question: Can the oftendisappointing performance of our education system be explained in part by the way it's organized? Are 14,000 separate districts ruled by elected school boards the best arrangement for 21st-century America? Their superb analysis shows how this long-standing form of education governance can present significant barriers to needed reform —and how to think about possible alternatives." —Christopher D. Cerf, New Jersey Commissioner of Education|"A searing indictment of our fragmented and incoherent education governance system inherited from the 19th century. It illuminates the negative consequences of no one in charge. The book includes a stimulating array of promising alternatives for the contemporary school governance context." —Michael W. Kirst, Professor Emeritus of Education and Business Administration, Stanford University, and President of the California State Board of Education|"This book provides a provocative look at how we govern our education system. The authors take a critical look at how we currently govern and identify concrete alternatives to ensure more of our youth are successful in school." —John E. Deasy, Superintendent, Los Angeles Unified School District|"This book deals with the elephant in the room in education reform —the governance challenges that are myriad, persistent, and obtrusive at multiple levels —and puts forward a broad range of arguments, evidence, and case examples culled from the brightest minds studying these issues today.... The ideas and recommendations advanced in this volume are strategic, well-informed, and insightful, making it a must-read for anyone seeking to be a driver of bold and formative change in education policy." —Carolyn J. Heinrich, Sid Richardson Professor ofPublic Affairs, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin

• Education Governance in America: Who Leads When Everyone Is in Charge?, Patrick McGuinn and Paul MannaThe Failures of U.S. Education Governance Today, Chester E. Finn Jr. and Michael J. PetrilliHow Current Education Governance Distorts Financial Decisionmaking, Marguerite RozaGovernance Challenges to Innovators within the System, Michelle R. DavisGovernance Challenges to Innovators outside the System, Steven F. WilsonRethinking District Governance, Frederick M. Hess and Olivia M. MeeksInterstate Governance of Standards and Testing, Kathryn A. McDermottEducation Governance in Performance-Based Federalism, Kenneth K. WongThe Rise of Education Executives in the White House, State House, and Mayor's Office, Jeffrey R. HenigEnglish Perspectives on Education Governance and Delivery, Michael BarberEducation Governance in Canada and the United States, Sandra VergariEducation Governance in Comparative Perspective, Michael Mintrom and Richard WalleyGovernance Lessons from the Health Care and Environment Sectors, Barry G. RabeToward a Coherent and Fair Funding System, Cynthia G. BrownPicturing a Different Governance Structure for Public Education, Paul T. HillFrom Theory to Results in Governance Reform, Kenneth J. MeierThe Tall Task of Education Governance Reform, Paul Manna and Patrick McGuinn