Increased funding is vital to any educational renewal. The papers in this publication provide a critical look at the educational system and show that it is clearly a dual system that, more than 40 years after the "Brown vs. the Board of Education" decision remains largely separate and unequal. A key issue is that of educational standards. The glaring weakness in most proposals for academic standards is the conspicuous absence of resources needed to realize them. Without dramatic improvements in the conditions of teaching and learning, standards will neither raise student achievement nor ensure that those who have been worst served by the schools historically will finally get access to better educational programs. The 29 chapters of this book focus on reforms at Federal, state, and local levels, and promote the common theme of educational equity. A glossary is included. Each chapter contains references. (SLD)