This thoughtful volume avoids ideological posturing and instead asks important questions about what the federal government can and cannot do well in supporting education. The cast of contributors is top-notch and with enough differences in focus and perspective to make for a stimulating collection that you’ll want to read in full.       — Jeffrey R. Henig, professor of political science and education, Teachers College, Columbia University

With this book, Rick Hess and Andrew Kelly have brought together a diverse group of researchers and policy analysts on a topic that is critical, improving K–12 education. Carrots, Sticks, and the Bully Pulpit will be a crucial resource for lawmakers, policy makers, and anyone interested in improving the quality of education in America.       — Jeb Bush, chairman of the Foundation for Excellence in Education and former governor of Florida

A must-read for every education policy maker in the field, especially every state education leader who is directly affected by federal education policies and actions. As we chart an important course to follow on No Child Left Behind, it is imperative that we recognize the past—since ‘what’s past is prologue.’       — Paul G. Pastorek, chief counsel, EADS North America, former superintendent of education, Louisiana

Carrots, Sticks, and the Bully Pulpit is a must-read for any lawmaker who wants to understand the history of federal education policy and its implications for our schools, as well as for any teacher who wonders why the classroom they entered with optimism and hope has become so mired in paperwork and bureaucracy.       — Robert Scott, commissioner of education, Texas