The Case for District–Based Reform – Leading, Building, and Sustaining School Improvement

2008 "Districts in Research and Reform" Publication Award, American Educational Research Association

In 1999, the Duval County (Fla.) school system set out to improve every school in the district. Over the next five years, the district achieved stunning results that have drawn nationwide attention.Jonathan A. Supovitz uses the unfolding story of Duval County to develop a sophisticated and thoughtful analysis of the role of the school district in enacting large-scale reform.

In 1999, under the superintendancy of retired Air Force major general John Fryer, the Duval County (Fla.) school system set out to improve every school in the district. Over the next five years, the district achieved stunning results that have drawn nationwide attention.

Supovitz uses the unfolding story of Duval County to develop a sophisticated and thoughtful analysis of the role of the school district in enacting large-scale reform. Drawing on interviews, surveys, and extensive first-hand observation, Supovitz chalks a vivid portrait. The Case for District-Based Reform weaves together seamlessly the account of leadership and change in one district with an investigation of the larger questions associated with this particular approach to school reform.

Jonathan A. Supovitz is an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania and a senior researcher at the Consortium for Policy Research in Education.