This book, which is intended to facilitate dialogue among educators, parents, students, and policymakers, provides practical approaches to reforming secondary schooling to increase its rigor and relevance to the "real world." Chapter 1 reviews 10 guiding principles of the Coalition of Essential Schools and school-to-work movements and discusses the need to merge the visions of educational rigor and relevance. Chapter 2 focuses on the following four interlocking strategies for opening classrooms and schools and allowing students to try different work and civic identities while preparing for college and careers: (1) involving external adult partners in young peoples' learning experiences and expanding students' access to the adult world through field studies and community projects; (2) equipping students with the tools for independent learning; (3) situating students in the world of work through internships and other work-based learning; and (4) supporting real-world learning by providing contexts where students can reflect on the meaning of their work. Chapter 3 examines structural strategies for achieving "whole-school" reform. Chapter 4 reviews the systemic side of reform and the process of creating circles of community support. Twenty-eight exhibits are included. Concluding the document is a list of resources for practitioners that includes 14 organizations, 54 publications, and 3 videotapes. (MN)