TITLE Diversity Amidst Standardization: State Differential Treatment of Districts. CPRE Research Report Series

When exploring the relationship between states and the federal government, analysts have examined the strategic value of a differential approach as well as the political issues involved. This paper explores those themes in examining state differential treatment of districts under four major headings: (1) the tensions between uniformity and differential treatment in the evolution of the state role in education policy; (2) the various forms of differential treatment; (3) "nw pressures leading to the use of differential treatment st,,-,egies; and (4) the effectiveness of differentia: treatment. The fifth, concluding section addresses implications for policy and research. It is implied that differential treatment strategies should be tailored to the purposes they are intended to serve. Encouraging school improvement and alleviating regulatory burden may require different approaches to varied treatment, fo