Preface.

Acknowledgments.

The Coalition of Essential Schools.

The Authors.

PART ONE: TOWARD A COMMON PURPOSE.

1. Education for the Information Age.

2. Leading the Process.

3. The District: Supporting Change and Working with Autonomies.

4. Stakeholder Engagement.

PART TWO: FOUNDING AUTONOMOUS, INTERCONNECTED SCHOOLS.

5. School Vision.

6. Transforming Instructional Practice.

7. Essentials of Small School Leadership.

8. Handling Electives, AP Classes, and Other Access Issues.

9. Sharing the Building.

PART THREE: TRANSITION PLANNING.

10. Roll-Out Plans for New Autonomous Small Schools.

11. Student Choice Options.

12. Teacher Assignment and Contractual Issues.

13. Concluding Thoughts.

Appendix A: Profiled Organizations.

Appendix B: Profiled Schools.

Appendix C: Additional School Design Resources.

Appendix D: Model Guidelines for Small Schools.

Appendix E: Plans, Processes, and Policies for a Conversion Strategy.

Appendix F: The Harwood Institute’s Principles of Civic Engagement.

References.

Index.