It argues that SEAs generally think about these activities through a lens provided by federal law; it discusses how today's
reform - minded state chiefs prioritize this line
of work; it highlights how SEAs need to alter how they interact with LEAs if these schools are to improve; it details how some departments have reorganized themselves to do this work; it discusses the challenges associated with launching new school - improvement
efforts in an era
of austerity; and it offers a three -
category framework for comparing SEAs.