The volume begins with Carol Bennett’s overview of public elementary education and the importance of establishing “early learning habits, a solid foundation of basic skills, and positive attitudes toward lifetime learning.” American middle schools face their own unique challenges, namely low academic achievement rates and the learning plateaus that often appear among middle school-aged students. Bennett explains how middle schools are organized in such a way to foster collaboration between teachers and administrators and to meet student needs. High school education and the changing policies regarding its curriculum is also a concern for educational researchers, as these schools must provide effective college and career preparation programs for their students. In addition to the varying needs and objectives of primary and secondary public schools, rural and urban schools face their own sets of challenges. Rural schools typically provide smaller classes, more teacher attention, and increased support from the community than do suburban and urban schools. However, rural schools often lack adequate funding resources necessary to provide a variety of specialized courses and extracurricular activities. While urban schools are more likely to offer a wide selection of courses, these institutions struggle with a large student population, substantial administrative responsibilities, and a highly diverse student body. Heather Newton discusses the specific policies that address the needs of urban schools, such as diversity promotion, the effective implementation of classroom management strategies, and the assurance of a safe school environment.