This book describes the nation's most comprehensive and longest-running statewide school-reform initiative: the 1990 Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA). Focusing on the broad picture, the book is a compilation of 17 articles by education experts who were asked to examine the intended and unintended consequences of Kentucky's reform law. The book was written for education practitioners and policymakers and is also meant to help teachers and administrators understand how their work fits into the broader realm of school reform. The text is divided into four parts. Part 1 describes the foundation for Kentucky's reform law by looking at the judicial, legislative, and executive actions that led to reform. Part 2 describes KERA's impact on teaching and learning in the state during the past decade, with articles on assessment and accountability, content standards, results of the primary-school program, and impact on teachers. The next section discusses the three major initiatives of KERA to build the capacity of educators: professional development, professional standards, and professional challenges. The last part features initiatives of KERA that were designed to bring new players into school governance and support. Included in this section are discussions of democratic site-based councils, the reorganization of the department of education, and citizen activism. (Contains an index.) (RJM)