Reviews the African American community's unsuccessful struggle to replace the District of Columbia Public School's desegregation policy of tracking with a program emphasizing educational excellence. Discusses the Hobson v. Hansen decision, which ended tracking but shifted attention to busing and racial balancing. (FMW)

Describes a case study of a rural school district in which conflicting superintendent, school board, and community values led to the superintendent's dismissal, which led to the defeat of the board members. Analyzes the course of events in terms of the dissatisfaction theory of democracy. (FMW)