Setting the stage : where state power and education meet / Bruce S. Cooper and Bonnie C. Fusarelli -- State case studies. California / Lawrence O. Picus ; Kentucky / Tricia Browne-Ferrigno ; New Jersey / Bruce S. Cooper and Philip H. Nisonoff ; New York / Sandra Vergari ; Texas / Brendan D. Maxcy, Andrea K. Rorrer, and Enrique Aleman, Jr. ; Kansas / Bruce D. Baker and Preston C. Green -- Comparative and national trends. The roots of difference in state educational policy / Karen Seashore [and others] ; State power and equity / Kevin P. Brady ; The incremental revolution : nationalizing education accountability policy / Kathryn A. McDermott and Elizabeth DeBray-Pelot ; Reading from the top : state impact on reading curriculum and instruction / Mengli Song -- Trends and conclusions. Improvement or interference? : reenvisioning the "state" in education reform / Lance D. Fusarelli