By virtually every measure, America's public schools are failing. Grassroots School Reform argues that significant education reform will not come from state or federal policy change, but from locally stimulated initiatives that reclaim responsibility for selecting committed leadership and force states to grant greater local autonomy. Using as a blueprint exemplary charter schools, Farnsworth argues that public policy must extend chartering privileges to all schools and allow them to pursue excellence without the restraints of state and federal restriction. This book provides a fresh, but uniquely manageable approach to grassroots education reform that re-empowers citizens to control their educational destinies.