Shows how actors at various levels contribute to support, control and interventions

Presents the variety and similarities between agencies impact on schools in various countries

Contains both theoretical and descriptive analyses

1. Introduction: Governing Chains - Support, Control and Intervention for Local Schools.- Part I: The Nordic Countries.- 2. Denmark: Contracts in Danish Educational Governance.- 3. Finland: Changing Operational Environment Changing Finnish Educational Governance,- 4. Iceland: Challenges in Educational Governance in Iceland: The Establishment and Role of the National Agency in Education.- 5. Norway: Educational Governance, Gap-Management Strategies, and Reorganizational Processes of the State Authorities in Norway.- 6. Sweden: High Policy Ambitions with Soft Accountability.- Part II: The Middle European Countries.- 7. England: Autonomy and Regulation in the School System in England.- 8. Estonia: School Governance in Estonia - Turnaround from Order-Oriented to Inclusive and Evidence-based Governance.- 9. France: The French State and its Typical "Agencies" in Education - Policy Transfer and Ownership in the Implementation of Reforms.- 10. Germany: School Governing in Germany:Organization of Educational State Agencies and their Role and Function as to Quality Management.- 11. Scotland: The Scottish School System.- Part III: The North American states - Canada and the US.- 12. Alberta, Canada: School Improvement in Alberta.- 13. Ontario, Canada: Education in the Echo Chamber: Understanding K-12 Education Governance in Ontario, Canada.- 14. California, USA: "The California Way": The Golden State's Promise to Empower Principals and De-emphasize Testing.- 15 Minnesota, USA: Minnesota: Finance and Policy in a High Performing U.S. State.- 16. South Carolina, USA: Educational Authorities and the Schools: Conflict and Cooperation in South Carolina.- Part IV: Commonwealth Countries.- 17. Australia: The Australian Education System.- 18. Kenya: Robust or Burst: Education Governance in Kenya after Promulgation of the 2010 Constitution.- 19. New Zealand: New Zealand - Steering at a Distance and Self-Managed Schools.- 20. South Africa: Education Authorities and Public Schools: The Organisation and Impact of Policies in South Africa.- 21. Singapore: Singapore's Education System: A Centralised-Decentralised Model.- 22. Comparative Analysis of Central Aspects.