Like all studies, this one has limitations. Case study methods provide
opportunities for description, hypothesis generation, and grounded theory building,
not for generalization. Site visits occurred late in the year, when the teaching and
curricular materials in use may have been different than earlier in the year. We
could not gain access to all pertinent classes. However, restrictions on some classes
occurred across the board in all schools, and the reasons were similar: lack of
cooperation or quality teaching. I cannot say whether these classes varied
systematically across sites. Another limitation is the lack of systematic data on
interviewees’ educational backgrounds and teaching experiences, which could help
inform their responses. However, with the exception of two new vice principals, the
vast majority of staff appeared to be seasoned veterans. Despite these limitations,
the results are compelling.