CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE - RESTRUCTURING, COLLABORATION, AND THE PROBLEM SCHOOL

This article is concerned with consequences for school reform inherent in the relationships between schools and the institutional actors wit h whom they are linked through school restructuring efforts. It descri bes the experiences of two elementary schools in a collaborative restr ucturing effort. It raises questions about what is involved in buildin g a school's capacity for programmatic improvement. Though restructuri ng is intended to provide greater support for school change efforts, t he interconnectedness and multilevel, multisector nature of restructur ing projects can work to impede school staffs' efforts to significantl y reconceptualize their educational programs, particularly at schools where staffs are contending with the most critical educational problem s.