This thought-provoking and copiously researched book provides educators with a blueprint for radical improvement based on the hard-learned experiences of their peers around the world.

What are world-class schools? -- Are U.S. schools world-class? good news: the direct evidence -- Are U.S. schools world-class? good news: the indirect evidence -- Are U.S. schools world-class? bad news: the direct evidence -- Are U.S. schools world-class? bad news: the indirect evidence -- South Korea, Shanghai, and Singapore: educational systems that have advanced greatly in two generations -- Japan: a history of sustained success -- Finland and the Netherlands: high-performing Northern Europe -- Canada: our northern neighbor -- Getting to world-class: what's next? -- Checklist: features of world-class education.