"An outstanding contribution to the debate over education reform in America.... No doubt about it: Bill Schmidt's book has helped clarify my own thinking about education and will remain within arm's reach of my desk." —Michigan Governor John Engler

"Schmidt and his colleagues mine the immensely rich data that is emerging from TIMSS to separate the myths from the facts, showing not only that schools do make a difference, but telling you in plain language just what makes a difference, TIMSS has become an extraordinary mirror which, held up to the American education experience, is more revealing than I have ever encountered. Schmidt has made himself master of that mirror!" —Marc Tucker, president, National Center on Education and the Economy

"It is my belief that this is one of the most relevant reports to the nation on the roots of our failed educational reform efforts." —Leon M. Lederman, Nobel Laureate in physics, Pritzker Professor of Science, Illinois Institute of Technology, and director emeritus, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

"No school reformer should offer an opinion until they have digested the findings of this ground-breaking study of international curriculum practices." —Diane Ravitch, holder of the Brown Chair in Education Studies at the Brookings Institution

"The path to improving student performance is a lot clearer because of this remarkable book.... Make no mistake— all of us who care about the educational well-being of our children in a shrinking world should read this book." —Milton Goldberg, executive vice president, National Alliance of Business

"Shows the central role of curriculum and tracking in determining what students here get to learn, and why students in so many countries learn more." —Martin Carnoy, professor of education and economics, Stanford University