After describing the economic, social, and technological forces that aggravate the discrepancy between the emerging social structure of society and the organization of schools and necessitate educational restructuring, this document discusses renewal, reform, and restructuring as three levels of efforts toward change in schools. Brief representative definitions of restructuring are offered, and a continuum of support for fundamental change in education is examined, with educational reformers being the most supportive and parents showing the least support. Following several categorization schemes for restructuring efforts, restructuring activities are grouped into three broad categories and explored as follows: (1) the three Central Variables, which focus directly on student learning--curriculum, instruction, and assessment; (2) the four Enabling Variables--time, technology, learning environment, and school community relations; and (3) the four Supporting Variables--governance, working relationships, personnel, and teacher leadership. Last, descriptions are given for three possible scenarios for the future of public education: continued mediocrity; incremental change and improvement; or restructuring. Sources of further information are appended. (128 references) (CLA)