Consultant Schmoker maintains that despite the best efforts of teachers and administrators, buffers still exist in US schools that keep outsiders from looking in and insiders from looking around. He believes the only realistic ways to improve teaching and learning are to eliminate the factors that isolate schools from the community and educators from each other and their students, particularly in the field of literacy education. He advocates turning to authentic literacy and intellectual development, starting with assessing the real results of students and working into a teamwork system that integrates critical and argumentative literacy into every aspect of schooling. As part of the teamwork he supports professional learning community and developing leadership at all stages, including the central office and state levels. An appendix includes a sample agreement for departments. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)