"Section 1 of American Educational Governance on Trial: Change and Challenges explores the issues and the implications associated with the performance and legitimacy crises. Section 2 presents alternative views about how to "fix" the educational governance system, including perspectives on systemic design, school finance, and choice options. Section 3 is devoted to rethinking the governance of school districts, with discussions on mayoral and state take overs, teacher unions, community involvement, the superintendency, and reconstitution of failing systems, along with a look at the Supreme Court's Zelman decision. Section 4 concludes the volume with reflections on state and federal roles in governance - past, present, and future."--Jacket.