'This book makes a significant contribution to clarifying the analysis of decentralization as a structural feature of school systems.' - Educational Management and Administration'This book makes a significant contribution to clarifying the analysis of decentralization as a structural feature of school systems. It also provides a useful framework for attempting to assess the impact of any given form of decentralization on the quality of education provided by a school system.' - Educational Management& Administration'This book makes a significant contribution to clarifying the analysis of decentralization as a structural feature of school systems.' - Education and Administration, April 1998

• 1 Adding value Part I Understanding decentralisation 2 The scope of decentralisation 3 Markets, collectivities and decentralisation 4 Purpose and principles in decentralisation Part II Decentralised management in practice 5 International perspectives on decentralisation in education 6 Managing autonomy: delegation in practice 7 Accountability and decentralisation 8 Decentralisation and efficiency: the impact on learning 9 Diversity and equity in decentralisation Part III Schools at the centre? 10 Learning at the centre