After reading Reinventing Public Education, I believe that the only really hope for the future of American education lies in the contracting approach to public education that the authors describe. This is one of the only books on education I have ever read that understands that the problems with public education in this country have less to do with a lack of standards, poor teaching methods, or inequitable funding, than a system which fails to understand that schools are organizations that can only be successful through organic growth rather than government regulation. This book will appeal to both voucher supporters and ardent defenders of a public education system that is committed to educating all its students

The authors did an excellent job of taking a topic so broad, such as school finance and education policy, and presenting it in a concise format. Professors using this text book have the freedom to delve deeply into specific chapter topics as needed, while also having the opportunity to cover the broader spectrum of school fincance and education policy as permitted by the course calendar. An update of the book would be greatly appreciated.