1. What expectations do Americans hold for their schools?
Since their inception, public schools have been the focus of conflict as they work to meet society's academic, vocational, social, civic, and personal goals.

2. Should schools transmit the American culture or change it?
Two fundamental, often opposing, purposes of schools, are (1) to transmit society's knowledge and values, passing on the cultural baton, and (2) to reconstruct society, empowering students to promote social reform.

3. What school purposes are emphasized by educational reform?
In 1983, A Nation at Risk triggered increased testing and a back-to-basics school curriculum, an emphasis that is felt in today's schools. Other reform efforts, focusing on strengthening the teaching profession, restructuring education, and providing social and medical services for children, have had less impact.

4. How are magnet, charter and virtual schools, open enrollment, and vouchers reshaping our concept of the neighborhood public school?
These different schools offer parents choices, and free-market economists like Milton Friedman believe that such choices lead to more competitive and successful schools. As an examples, the charter school movement, which started in 1991, encourages groups to contract with school boards and open their own public school, and virtual schools allow students to take classes via the Internet.

5. Do the laws of the marketplace belong in public education?
For-profit education companies argue that they are more effective and efficient than public schools. But many parents and educators are concerned that profiteering and commercialism are compromising public education.

6. Why are so many families choosing home schooling?
The growth of home schooling is due not only to religious reasons, but also because many parents believe home schooling offers a more effective education that either private or public schooling.

7. What are the characteristics of effective schools?
The "five-factor theory" of effective schools includes: (1) strong administrative leadership, (2) clear school goals shared by faculty and administration, (3) a safe and orderly school climate, (4) frequent monitoring and assessment of student progress, and (5) high expectations for student performance. Newer research connects effective schools with early intervention programs, an emphasis on reading and math, smaller schools, smaller classes, increased learning time, assessment of student progress, and expanded teacher training.