Reforming instruction is challenging. In this comparative case study of 12 school districts, we investigated the dilemmas that emerged for system leaders as they engaged in system building for elementary science and the approaches leaders took in managing them. We found that system leaders' efforts to manage their environments contributed to the…

Describes how a school district in the mostly poor or working class Union City, New Jersey "remade" its schools before integrating technology. They adopted a whole-language approach, which facilitated other changes: replacement of old texts with classroom libraries of authentic literature; interdisciplinary scheduling; removal of pullout…