So much reform, so little change; the persistence of failure in urban schools

This book explores the persistent failure of American urban schools. Payne is dismissive of reform that is disconnected from the daily realities of urban schools and of grand theories of change, which result in government spending too much time pursuing goals of limited practical value in an effort to improve city schools. He concludes that there is no one easy way of fixing the situation.

Drawing on an array of sources—from the recent history of various urban school systems, to the growing sophistication of education research, and his own experience as a teacher, scholar and participant in reform efforts—Payne argues that successful reform depends on what he calls ‘five fundamentals’: instructional leadership; professional capacity; establishing a learning climate; family and community involvement; and the quality of instruction.