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Making Schools Work: A Revolutionary Plan to Get Your Children the Education They Need
Based on a comprehensive study of more than twho hundred schools, a plan for national classroom reform recommends a revolutionary management system though which principals, rather than school boards, are given control over budgets and personnel. 50,000 first printing.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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December 15, 2025An informative book on the policies and practices that shape successful education.
January 11, 2013
Review originally posted on my blog, Writing by Numbers, here.
I’ve read Making Schools Work before, but as I began applying to graduate school, it became relevant for me to re-read. I’m interested in how to more effectively design and operate successful schools, and this book offers a very readable, well-researched, and passionate introduction to these questions.
Dr. Ouchi, an organizational studies and business professor at UCLA, studied over 200 schools in six large districts and identified what he calls his “Seven Keys to Success” for managing effective schools. Chief among them is a focus on decentralizing the district, allowing principals considerable autonomy to manage their schools according to local needs. He advocates for principal staffing and budgetary control, coupled with increased accountability for performance to make sure the principals deliver. He also emphasizes the importance of prioritizing student achievement above all other goals, and of making the school a community of learners. The final element of Ouchi’s plan is real school choice options, to ensure that no student is trapped in an unsuccessful neighborhood school.
He concludes with a guide for parents on how to evaluate their child’s school, and suggestions for both parents and educators to incorporate elements of success. Though you may disagree with some of Ouchi’s assertions, he raises important ideas, and I highly recommend taking a look.
I’ve read Making Schools Work before, but as I began applying to graduate school, it became relevant for me to re-read. I’m interested in how to more effectively design and operate successful schools, and this book offers a very readable, well-researched, and passionate introduction to these questions.
Dr. Ouchi, an organizational studies and business professor at UCLA, studied over 200 schools in six large districts and identified what he calls his “Seven Keys to Success” for managing effective schools. Chief among them is a focus on decentralizing the district, allowing principals considerable autonomy to manage their schools according to local needs. He advocates for principal staffing and budgetary control, coupled with increased accountability for performance to make sure the principals deliver. He also emphasizes the importance of prioritizing student achievement above all other goals, and of making the school a community of learners. The final element of Ouchi’s plan is real school choice options, to ensure that no student is trapped in an unsuccessful neighborhood school.
He concludes with a guide for parents on how to evaluate their child’s school, and suggestions for both parents and educators to incorporate elements of success. Though you may disagree with some of Ouchi’s assertions, he raises important ideas, and I highly recommend taking a look.
June 8, 2013
Mayor Applegarth recommended I read this book. It talks about improving education in America. It talks about schools needing to control their own budget, have a burning focus on student achievement and that families have choice.
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June 11, 20092 copies in GDL
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews