Foreword

In a bustling metropolitan city, a local television station runs a donation campaign to generate $1,200 worth of school supplies per teacher in the district so that teachers accustomed to digging into their own pockets to pay for these supplies will not have to. Pay is low in the district, and the district is reluctant to hire teachers with experience who move into the city from other states because they cost too much. Over 75% of its schools carry the No Child Left Behind moniker—needs improvement. Inappropriate student behavior in the district is on the rise. In response, the district has expanded it alternative programs for emotionally and behaviorally challenging students to target not only high school aged but upper elementary and middle school students as well.