In the early 1970s, pessimism about public education in the United States was on the rise. To counter this outlook, researchers held a conference to identify public schools that were humane, caring, and effective, and from this conference arose a heightened awareness of alternative schools and their place in education. Subsequent years of investigating these effective schools produced numerous insights, many of which are offered in this book. Chapter 1 offers an overview of the difficulties that plagued and continue to trouble public education. Chapter 2 examines these places and offers examples of what makes alternative schools so appealing. Chapter 3 focuses on why these schools are so effective, and chapter 4 profiles models of established alternative schools. How to start an alternative school is the focus of chapter 5, and this chapter is followed by an examination of magnet schools and charter schools. Six appendices contain answers to frequently asked questions, evaluation criteria, names of support organizations, sample alternative schools and programs, sample charter schools, and charter school support contacts. (RJM)