Presenting diverse perspectives on current major education issues at the national level, this book addresses issues that have played out and will play out in the legislative process in the U.S. Congress. After the "Preface" (Jack Kosoy and Michael D. Usdan) and "Introduction" (John F. Jennings), the book is divided into four parts. Part 1, "School Reform," contains five chapters: "What We Were Doing When We Were Interrupted" (Lamar Alexander); "The Nation Is at Even Greater Risk Now," (Edward M. Kennedy); "Federal Action Essential for Educational Reform" (Gordon M. Ambach); "From the Business Roundtable: A Business Perspective on Education" (Christopher T. Cross); and "Commentary on School Reform" (John F. Jennings). Part 2, "Postsecondary Education," contains five chapters: "The Bush Administration's Proposals for Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act" (Barry White): "Reauthorization the Higher Education Act: Federal Policy Making for Postsecondary" (Thomas R. Wolanin); "The College Affordability Crisis and Public Policy in the 1990s" (Lawrence D. Gladieux); "A Changing Federal Role in Providing Student Financial Aid?" (Arthur M. Hauptman); and "Commentary on Postsecondary Education" (John F. Jennings). Part 3, "Education Research," contains five chapters: "Critical Issues in the Office of Educational Research and Improvement" (Diane Ravitch); "The Educational Research, Development, and Dissemination Excellence Act: Imperative for OERI Reform" (Major R. Owens); "The OERI Cure Must Wait for New Congress" (Gerald E. Sroufe); "The Department of Education's Support of Education Research" (Richard C. Atkinson and Andrew C. Porter); and "Commentary on Education Research" (John F. Jennings). Part 4, "Education Funding," contains five chapters "Investing in Education: The Bush Record" (Thomas A. Scully); "Investment in the Future; A Key to Restoring America's Future" (Leon E. Panetta); "Education Funding and the Budget Enforcement Act" (Jim Sasser); "Closing the Education Investment Gap: Lessons from the 1980s" (Susan Frost); and "Commentary on Education Funding" (John F. Jennings). (RR)