Includes bibliographical references (p. 277-296) and index.

Ch. I. Strong foundation, evolving challenges : a case study to support leadership transition in the Boston Public Schools / The Aspen Institute Education and Society Program and Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University -- Ch. II. Governance and the Boston Public Schools / John H. Portz -- Ch. III. Leadership development at the Boston Public Schools / Karen L. Mapp and Jennifer M. Suesse -- Ch. IV. Building a human resource system in the Boston Public Schools / Susan Moore Johnson and Morgaen L. Donaldson -- Ch. V. Instructional improvement in the Boston Public Schools : the limits of focus and stability / Barbara Neufeld -- Ch. VI. Using data to inform decision making in urban school districts : progress and new challenges / Richard J. Murnane, Elizabeth A. City, and Kristan Singleton -- Ch. VII. On the road to reform : building a system of excellent and equitable high schools in Boston / Adria Steinberg and Lili Allen -- Ch. VIII. Escaping from old ideas : educating students with disabilities in the Boston Public Schools / Ellen C. Guiney, Mary Ann Cohen, and Erika Moldow -- Ch. IX. Family and community engagement in the Boston Public Schools : 1995-2006 / Abby R. Weiss and Helen Westmoreland -- Ch. X. The Boston story : successes and challenges in systemic education reform / Thomas W. Payzant, with Christopher M. Horan -- Appendix : Boston Public Schools whole-school improvement : the six essentials.

"In the last decade, the Boston Public Schools has undergone critical reforms that have been of intense interest to school leaders and policymakers throughout the country. Under the leadership of superintendent Thomas Payzant, the Boston schools implemented extensive reform strategies that yielded notable results. Fittingly, at the end of Payzant's superintendency in September 2006, the Boston Public Schools