"In response to the nationwide attacks on education in the name of educational reform packaged in No Child Left Behind, general analyses and local accounts of these attacks, as well as arguments on behalf of 'authentic educational reform' are badly needed.... This volume offers a useful combination of specific case studies, theory, and policy." - Gerald Coles, educational psychologist, US

Contents: Foreword. Preface. Introduction: A. Salz, What Is Authentic Educational Reform? Part I: Compassionate Conservatism: Current Myths of Educational Reform. J. Spring, No Child Left Behind as Political Fraud. S. Nieto, H.L. Johnson, The Sociopolitical Context of No Child Left Behind: Hard Times and Courageous Responses. Part II: The Impact of Compassionate Conservatism on Educational Policies and Practices. F. Samson, C. Belfield, The Privatization of America's Schools. P.B. Johnson, High Stakes Testing: Inauthentic Educational Reform. M. Malow-Iroff, M. Benhar, S. Martin, Educational Reform and the Child With Disabilities. Part III: Reports From the Field: The Impact of Compassionate Conservatism on Teaching and Learning. R. Meyers, Leaving Sanity Behind: How Scientific Are the Scientific Phonics Programs? M. Baghban, H. Li, "I Thought I Was a Professional": Teachers' and Parents' Reactions to NCLB in New York City. M. Zarnowski, A. Backner, L. Engel, What Ever Happened to the Rest of the Curriculum? S. Kirch, M. Hunter, The Campaign for Fiscal Equity. L. Scott, A. Love, The Impact of Community on Educational Reform. P. Hammrich, M. Meyers, Equity in the Science Classroom. Part IV: Authentic Educational Reform: What Is to Be Done? B. Ayers, Educational Reform. S. Ohanian, In a Time of Universal Deceit, Telling the Truth Is a Revolutionary Act. Conclusion: H.L. Johnson, Finding the Missing Child in NCLB: Pushing Against the Compassionate Conservative Agenda.