Douglas E. Mitchell is Professor of Education and Director of the School Improvement Research Group at the University of California, Riverside. He is past-president of both the Politics of Education Association and the Sociology of Education Association, and recipient of the Stephen K. Bailey Award for research contributions to the Politics of Education. Education politics and policy have been the focus of his research and scholarly writing. Published writings include more than 100 books, journal articles, and monographs covering topics in social science theory and utilization, school program