This report describes "Philadelphia's Grand Experiment" in comprehensive school district reform, from its conception through its initial months of implementation. In 2001, as part of the remedy for low student performance, the governor ordered the state to take over governance of the Philadelphia School District, with a substantial number of schools placed under private management. A total of 70 low-performing schools experienced significant change in their governance, and another 16 that had shown improvement were given additional funds to continue their successful initiatives on their own. Thirty schools were randomly assigned to three for-profit providers. Local nonprofit groups chose low-performing schools located near their sites. Against this backdrop of sweeping, district-wide reforms, a wide range of school-based experiments emerged. Nationally, there is public interest in the 70 partnerships schools, which include nonprofit and for-profit education for management organizations (EMOs). The partnerships involve restructured schools; Edison Schools, Inc.; Chancellor Beacon Academies; Victory Schools; universal companies; Foundations, Inc.; the University of Pennsylvania; Temple University; and charter schools. The reforms fall into five categories: curriculum and instruction, staffing and leadership configurations, student motivation and behavior management, extra academic help for students, and facilities improvements. (SM)