Discusses the heated debate raging on the US nation's schools, with proposals ranging from imposing national standards to replacing public education altogether with a voucher system for private schools. This study proposes a solution to the problem by finding a middle ground between these extremes.

Preface 1: Preserving Public Education 2: A Critique of the Current Public School System3: A Contract School Strategy 4: Contracting and Other Reform Proposals 5: How a Contract Strategy Would Work 6: Paying for Contract Schools 7: Politics, Leadership, and Transition Strategies App. A: Two Hypothetical Contract Schools App. B: Primer on School Finance Systems App. C: Questions and Answers about Contract SchoolsBibliography Index