Argues that the present structure of federal programs for elementary and secondary education is unwieldy and does too little to promote access and quality. Several broad directions for reform are outlined, including coordination at the local school level, but the idea of major program consolidation is rejected. (Author/DB)

Five years ago the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) launched a revolution in our education system by insisting that all students should be proficient in reading and math by 2014 and demanding comprehensive reforms to reach this national goal, including strong assessment and accountability systems, a highly qualified teacher in every classroom, more…

California State Board of Education policies authorizing implementation of early childhood legislation for K-3 programs are given. Legislative authority is quoted for each of the policies, which cover: (1) development of the early childhood education master plan--district level planning, individual school level planning, optional waiver of…