As school districts across the country struggle financially, Frederick M. Hess of AEI and Eric Osberg of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute offer new insight into how school leaders can not only survive the current economic storm, but also restructure their schools to save money and improve efficiency.

Will states like Nevada, Florida, Massachusetts, and many other places use graduation tests to raise the bar for educational achievement or permit them to become another hollow rite of spring?

In this era of constrained resources, how can schools cut costs, eliminate inefficient spending, and fuel school improvement?