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In the early 1980s, a series of research studies reported that American schools had failed to produce literate and numerate graduates. This shortcoming was linked to the nation's declining economic position in the world marketplace, which led to a widespread, intensive school-restructuring movement. Drawing on multiple perspectives, the purpose of this book is to capture what has been learned to date about restructuring schools. Chapter 1 examines the impetus for rebuilding American schools by reviewing the classical arguments for organizational decentralization as well as more school-specific forces supporting reform. The second chapter provides an overview of restructuring and discusses the reasons why the restructured-schools movement represents a significant change in thinking about education. Chapters 3-5 deal specifically with major components of educational restructuring, including work redesign, organization and governance structures, and educational processes. The final chapter presents a critical examination of restructuring and the issues requiring further treatment as well as those factors that need to be addressed if change is to flourish. (Contains 290 references.) (LMI)