Failure is not an option - Alan M. Blankstein

`Failure Is Not an Option is a deeply passionate call to arms, combined with an entire arsenal of information - from the worlds of research and classroom practice - to enable the reader to take systematic, continuous and effective action. This book is absolutely a must read for all those interested in reform because it is simultaneously inspiring and practical' - From the Foreword by Michael Fullan, University of Toronto

"This is a practical, well formatted book that is intellectually solid, emotionally inspiring, and practically accessible." - Andy Hargreaves, Thomas More Brennan Chair in Education, Lynch School of Education, Boston College

"Both inspirational and eminently practical, Failure Is Not an Option can serve as a handbook for both strategic planning and classroom-by-classroom reworking. Any administrator who truly wishes to change his or her school can use this book as a manual from which to design every aspect of the change process." - Robert W. Cole, Educational writer and consultant, Louisville, KY

"This book speaks to the spark of caring, generosity, and greatness in every child and provides caring adults with ideas and tools to unleash this potential. It leaves no part of the child behind, and leaves no adult on the sidelines." - Maurice J. Elias, Professor of Psychology, Rutgers University, New Jersey

Building on a foundation that identifies courageous school leadership and the professional learning community as the center of effective school reform, this powerful new book by Alan M Blankstein offers six guiding principles for creating and sustaining high-performing schools:

} common mission, vision, values, and goals

} systems for prevention and intervention

} collaborative teaming for teaching and learning

} data driven decision making and continuous improvement

} active engagement from family and community

} building sustainable leadership capacity

Covering theory into practice, applications that include case studies and vignettes, and techniques for addressing difficult issues, the book also provides valuable dual perspectives on the critical issues: how implementation looks when it's done right as well as when things go wrong. Failure Is Not an Option is sure to be the state-of-the-art resource that school leaders reach for when, in Michael Fullan's words, they need "practical applications to perplexing problems".