Describes how to start with the school's mission and goals and develop a powerful school improvement plan focused on desired results. Explains how to use Understanding by Design 's backward-design process to determine the evidence for the plan's success and to plan improvement steps in instruction and leadership roles. Provides action ideas for starting the school improvement process and keeping it going.

What is the mission of schooling? -- What should curriculum accomplish? -- How should curriculum be re-formed? -- How should teaching be appropriately depersonalized? -- What is the teacher's job when teaching? -- What is the teacher's job when not teaching? -- What is the job of an academic leader? -- How should backward design apply to school reform? -- What are the desired results of school reform? -- What evidence should we collect? -- What actions should we plan? -- What habits must we confront?.