The National Advisory Council on Educational Research and Improvement sponsored a conference to take a close look at the practical ways in which education is being reformed, and perhaps transformed, with the assistance of private-sector advice and innovations and with certain business disciplines. Following are the titles and authors of the papers presented at the conference: "Introduction" (Alan Heslop); "Reform in the Schools: Myth and Reality" (A. Graham Down); "The Reading Reform Foundation: A Partner in Reason" (Charles J. Micciche); "Research and Improvement in the Social Studies: Reflections of a Private Sector Practitioner" (Raymond English); "Partnerships and Mentorships in Educational Improvement" (D. Jerry O'Brien); "Teacher Private Practices in a Public School Setting" (Ruth Anne Olson); "The North Branch Experiment with Contracting In" (James R. Walker); "The Higher Achievement Program: How To Help Empower Low Income Youngsters To Become Achievers and Leaders" (Greg Gannon); "Increasing Participation of Inner-City Youth in Academic Experiences" (Joan Davis Ratteray); and "Parochial Aid to Public Education?" (Charles J. O'Malley). (MLF)