Now available in paper, this guidebook explores why North American school districts decentralize, how the change takes place, what can go wrong, who gains and who will work against it. The pros and cons of decentralization are discussed, and the author shows how districts go through three stages of school-based management: exploration, trial and commitment. Based on the experiences of those who have participated in decentralization, the volume explains what happens when districts decentralize, how to avoid major mistakes and how to evaluate the changeover.