There is a general consensus that broad community support is important for successful urban education reform. More controversial, however, is how to achieve that support. This article analyzes two paths to creating a support network. The first is a mayoral path, exemplified by Boston, in which the mayor assumes political and fiscal responsibility for the school system. The second is a corporate path, exemplified by Pittsburgh in the 1980s, in which the private sector, led by the business community, establishes a supportive environment for school reform. Each path involves a different process of building support through the interactions of key leaders and institutions. Other cities seeking to develop a support network should do so in a manner consistent with their own constellation of leaders, institutions, and civic traditions.
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