Relying on highly optimistic estimates of extra funding can also open a trapdoor beneath reform. CharIotte's in earlier reform cycles. These tactics sometimes work, but they can be fatal to a reform if incie- pendent governments and philanthropists are not favorably impressed. Competing initiatives put in place after a communitywide strategy is announced and not clearly reconciled with it disrupt implementation. The resulting confusion can make things impossible for principals and teachers' union leaders who support the strategy.
Mixed signals are a constant problem in education reform.
Stating a strategy clearly and staying on the message are major challenges in a turbulent urban education environment. Of aD the reform leaders we studied, only New York's Alvarado and Memphis's House appear to have mastered it. Temporizing through reliance on half-measures and delay is the most important implementation problem. It comes from efforts to avoid other problems controversy, teacher opposition, concerns about costs, or criticism that an initiative is taking too much time. Though some compromises were caused by dollar shortages, most have been politically driven.