Decentralization Plan Seen Sparking 'Education Revolution' in N.C.

By Drew Lindsay

Jigsaw puzzles usually come with a box-top picture of what they look like when all the pieces fit together. Now, North Carolina's school system has a similar guide to what it should look like when its overhaul is completed.

The state board of education this month released its long-awaited plan to decentralize the school system. The state, said Jay Robinson, the board's chairman, must set goals for schools and determine how to measure their progress. But then, he said, the state needs to get out of the way.

"We believe we are on the verge of an education revolution that will provide a breath of fresh air to every classroom in North Carolina," Mr. Robinson said in a letter to state...