Cover -- Preface -- Contents -- Figures -- Tables -- Summary -- Acknowledgments -- Abbreviations -- Glossary -- Chapter One - Introduction -- Background -- This Monograph -- Chapter Two - Qatar and Its Education System -- Historical and Political Background -- Economy and Industry -- Population, Citizenship, and Workforce -- Education -- History -- The Ministry of Education -- Government Schools -- Private Schools -- Postsecondary Education -- Prior Efforts to Improve Quality -- Mixed Success at Reform -- Chapter Three - Analysis of Qatar's Education System -- Approach -- Observations -- Interviews -- Documentation -- Analysis -- Confirmation of System Weaknesses -- Lack of Vision or Goals for Education -- Piecemeal Growth Without View of Whole System -- Hierarchical Organizational Structure -- Unclear Lines of Authority -- Little Communication with Stakeholders -- Top-Down Control of Curriculum and Teaching -- Outmoded, Rigid Curriculum -- Unchallenging Curriculum -- Lack of School Autonomy -- Lack of Accountability -- Lack of Investment in Essential Elements -- Low Pay and Poor Incentives for Teachers -- Poor Teacher Allocation Policies -- Lack of Training and Professional Development -- Positive Aspects of the System -- Familiarity with International Developments -- Enthusiastic, Committed Staff -- Desire for Autonomy and Change -- Acceptance of Alternative Schooling Options -- Need for Structural and Systemic Change -- Chapter Four - The Reform Model -- Options for Reform -- Modified Centralized Model -- Charter School Model -- Voucher Model -- Model Selection -- The Independent School Model -- Model Design Principles -- Design Elements -- Expected Impact of the Independent School Model -- Chapter Five - Realizing the Independent School Model: Refined Design and Implementation Strategy -- Building an Organizational Structure.

Supreme Education Council -- Implementation Team -- Education Institute -- Evaluation Institute -- Operational Principles for Institutes -- Relationship with the Ministry of Education -- Role of RAND and Other External Contractors -- Timing -- Potential Challenges -- Maintaining a System-wide Perspective -- Building Human Resource Capacity -- Engaging Stakeholders Through Communication -- Encouraging Operators to Open Schools -- Managing a Very Short Time Frame -- Implementing the Independent School Model: Phase I -- Chapter Six - Building the Organizational Structure -- Establishment of the Supreme Education Council -- Establishment of the Institutes -- Leadership for the Reform -- External Support for the Institutes and Offices -- Facilities for the Institutes -- Summary -- Chapter Seven - Developing the Curriculum Standards and Supporting Their Implementation -- Curriculum Standards Development Process -- Key Issues in Standards Development -- Instructional Time -- Secondary-School Specialization -- Evaluation of Standards -- Support for Standards Implementation -- Initial Teacher Training -- Support to Schools -- Summary -- Chapter Eight - Developing the Assessment System -- Pre-Reform Testing in Qatar -- Qatar Student Assessment System Development Process:Initial Design Decisions -- 2004 QCEA: First Year of Standardized Testing -- Development and Administration -- Test Scoring and Reporting -- Surveys -- 2005 QCEA: Aligning Tests with Standards -- Alignment with Curriculum Standards -- New Item Formats and Procedures -- Key Development Issues -- Surveys -- Summary -- Chapter Nine - Establishing the Independent Schools -- Developing Guidelines for the Independent Schools -- Long-Term Planning for School Establishment -- Recruiting School Support Organizations -- Selecting Generation I Schools and Operators.

Training and Providing Support for the SchoolApplication Process -- Preparing School Facilities for Opening Day -- The Promise of the New Independent Schools -- Summary -- Chapter Ten - Challenges of a Rapid and Comprehensive Reform -- Maintaining a System-wide Perspective -- Building Human Resource Capacity -- Engaging Stakeholders Through Communication -- Encouraging Operators to Open Schools -- Conflicting Leadership Roles -- Collaborating Across Culture, Distance, and Time -- Managing a Very Tight Time Frame -- Summary -- Chapter Eleven - Accomplishments, Recommendations, and Implications -- Accomplishments -- Progress in Structural Change -- Progress in Improving Basic Educational Elements -- Progress in Establishing Independent Schools -- Recommendations for Further Development andSustainment of the Reform -- Continue to Build Human Capacity -- Continue to Promote the Principles of the Reform -- Expand the Supply of High-Quality Schools -- Integrate Education Policy with Broader Social Reforms -- Implications: Education Reform Beyond Qatar -- Appendix -- References.