| In the course of this project we have benefited from the advice and comments of many scholars. We are especially thankful to our current and former colleagues Robert Costrell and George Treyz, to Kevin Hollenbeck at the W.E. Upjohn Institute, and to Eric Hanushek, Hamilton Lankford, Tom Downes, Douglas Lambdin, Carolyn Heinrich, Larry Katz, Jim Wilson, Stephen Barro, David Figlio, and seminar participants at Northwestern University, University of Rochester, American Institutes for Research, and the University of Illinois for helpful comments and suggestions. Fred Guy, Lois Yachetta, Sean Campbell and Yan Xing provided valuable research assistance. We are also indebted to Paul Planchon, Dan Kasprzyk, Kerry Gruber, Sharon Bobbit, Tom Smith, Steven Broughman, Peter Stowe, and Alan Morehead at the National Center for Education Statistics, and Beth Schlaline at the National Data Resource Center for technical support and assistance, to Judy Gentry, our editor at the Upjohn Institute, and to two anonymous referees. |
| We benefited from many hours of interviews with school heads and administrators in various parts of the country. Since these interviews were conducted on the promise of strict confidentiality, we must thank them as a group. We also benefited from discussions with and materials provided by Lynn Cornett and Cheryl Gaines of the Southern Regional Education Board, Dr. Steven Clem of the National Association of Independent Schools, Dr. John Holmes of the Association of Christian Schools International, Dr. Dan Van Der Ark of Christian School International, Dr. Robert Kealey of the National Catholic Education Association, Vincent Durnan of the Northeast Association of Schools and Colleges, Kay James of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Cathy Baird of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Donna Sirutis of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, Chris Yelich of the American Association of Educators in Private Practice, Vickie Glazer of Sylvan Learning Systems Inc., Susan Jacoby and Susan Turner of Berlitz, Jr., Raymond Huntington, President of Huntington Learning Systems, James Boyle of Ombudsman Educational Services, Uda Schultz of SAVIS Educational Systems, Inc., and Inez Bosworth of the Educational Testing Service. |
| Finally, we are indebted to the W.E. Upjohn Institute for their financial support for this research and, most of all, to our wives and families for their tolerance. |
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