Acknowledgments

Although this book was the product of my fingers flying across my computer keyboard, it was no less the product of a professional lifetime, the last 30 years of which were spent at the National Center on Education and the Economy among colleagues—staff, advisors, and consultants—who contributed in countless important ways to our collective enterprise. The book is, in that sense, the work of a collegium. I am particularly indebted to Betsy Brown Ruzzi and her colleagues at the Center for International Education Benchmarking, whose research has found its way onto every page of this book.

My heartfelt thanks to Robert Rothman, who contributed in many indispensable ways to the production of the book, from helping to think about its organization, to reacting to various versions of the text, to securing permissions, and much more. Brendan Williams-Kief played an important role in coordinating with ASCD. Susan Hills, acquisition editor at ASCD, proved to be an insightful and unfailingly helpful editor.