New book by David K. Cohen examines federal influence on public schools

In his new book, "The Ordeal of Equality: Did Federal Regulation Fix the Schools?" by Harvard University Press, David K. Cohen examines federal influence on public schools. Prior to the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act, American schools were locally created and controlled. This legislation was created to improve education for children from low-income families. Cohen and co-author Susan L. Moffitt look at the gaps between policies and programs and the real-world practices they attempted to change, discuss the evidence behind what works and what has failed, and consider possible solutions.