Chapter Overview

This chapter examines the roles of state, federal and local governments with regard to funding and control over education. The changing roles of the federal government, in controlling education directly and indirectly, are discussed. Current educational reform initiatives, such as accountability and high-stakes testing, are explored in order to address the origins and purposes of these reform measures. This chapter also looks at the role which the federal government has played in decreasing acts of school violence. Finally, the issue of compulsory education is discussed.