Introduction: "Third wave," or lull, in Chicago school reform? / Alexander Russo -- The power, and limits, of civic capacity / Alexander Russo -- Reflections on the Chicago Annenberg challenge / Ken Rolling -- Site-based management during a time of centralization / Andrew G. Wade -- The importance of social trust in changing schools / David T. Gordon -- How trust helped transform a small Chicago school / David T. Gordon -- Parents as school reformers / Madeline Talbott -- Moving instruction to center stage / David T. Gordon -- School improvement at Benito Juarez High School / Richard G. Gelb -- Establishing accountability for Chicago schools / Philip J. Hansen -- Transition programs for retained students: segregation or salvation? / Michael Sadowski -- Ending social promotion: a signature reform / G. Alfred Hess, Jr. -- Forget governance: build capacity / Richard F. Elmore -- A view from Pershing Road / Timothy D. Brandhorst -- Missing in action: the Chicago Teachers Union / Linda Lenz -- Picking principals: Vallas goes too far / John Ayers -- Beefing up professional development / Alexander Russo -- Concrete improvements: Chicago' s school construction boom / Jacqueline C. Leavy -- A final word: ten questions for Paul Vallas' right-hand woman / Cozette Buckney.

Includes bibliographical references.