by Adam R. Nelson (Author)

In recent years, federal mandates in education have become the subject of increasing debate. Adam R. Nelson's The Elusive Ideal-a postwar history of federal involvement in the Boston public schools-provides lessons from the past that shed light on the continuing struggles of urban public schools today. This far-reaching analysis examines the persistent failure of educational policy at local, state, and federal levels to equalize educational opportunity for all. Exploring deep-seated tensions between the educational ideals of integration, inclusion, and academic achievement over time, Nelson considers the development and implementation of policies targeted at diverse groups of urban students, including policies related to racial desegregation, bilingual education, special education, school funding, and standardized testing.

Front Jacket

In recent years, federal mandates on education have become the subject of increasing debate. Adam R. Nelson's The Elusive Ideal--a postwar history of federal involvement in the Boston public school system--provides lessons from the past that shed light on the continuing struggles of urban public schools today. This wide-reaching analysis examines the failure of educational policy at local, state, and federal levels to afford all students equal educational opportunity. Exploring a deep-seated tension between the educational ideals of integration and academic achievement over time, Nelson considers the development and implementation of policies targeted at diverse groups of urban students, including policies related to racial desegregation, bilingual education, special education, school funding, and standardized testing.

Author Biography

Adam R. Nelson is assistant professor of educational policy studies and history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is the author of Education and Democracy: The Meaning of Alexander Meiklejohn, 1872-1964.

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