Political Foundationsfor Becoming a Teacher introduces the political trends, issues, and forces that shape public and private education in the United States.  Based on the successful introductory text Becoming a Teacher, this breakout text explores topics such as the effects of high-stakes testing, assessments, and standards-based curricula on the classroom, and the battle among political interest groups to influence education. Readable and practical, Political Foundationsfor Becoming a Teacher provides a realistic picture of how politics affects the teaching profession and suggests how future teachers can take advantage of expanding leadership roles.