The essays provided in this book shed light on and initiate debates about important policy issues associated with education reform and improvement. The authors do this by linking conceptual frameworks to past research, analyzing these challenges, and speculating about the contours of future research and school practice. Part 1, Educational Organizations: Evolving Thinking and Configurations, contains three chapters: "Contests Over Governance of Educational Policy: Prospects for the New Century" (James G. Cibulka); "Privatization of Education: Marketplace Models" (Martha McCarthy); and "Transaction Costs and the Structure of Interagency Collaboratives: Bridging Theory and Practice" (Patrick Galvin and Janice Fauske). Part 2, Students: The Bottom Line, features three chapters:"From Policy to Performance: Weaving Policy and Leadership Strategies To Improve Student Achievement" (Carolyn Kelley); "Education and Changing Demographics" (Betty Merchant); and "The Power of the Political: Beyond Professionalism in Integrating Programs for Children" (Carolyn D. Herrington). Part e, School Reform: National and Local Dynamic, contains two chapters: "National Standards in Local Context: A Philosophical and Policy Analysis" (Barry Bull); and "School Change Business and the Private Push" (Bruce Anthony Jones and Susan Otterbourg). Part 4, Key Dilemma, closes with two chapters: "The Future of Education Finance in Improving Public Education" (James G. Ward); and "The School Leadership Shortage: Framework for Policy Discussion" (Bruce Anthony Jones). (Notes and references follow each chapter. Appended is an author index and a subject index.) (MLF)