Final answer:
The Newman authors point to loose coupling as the key factor in making schools loosely coupled systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Newman authors point to loose coupling as lying at the heart of what makes schools loosely coupled systems. According to the authors, loose coupling refers to the weak connections and minimal interaction between different components of a system. In the context of schools, this means that the various elements of the education system, such as curriculum, teaching methods, and assessment processes, are not tightly integrated and can operate somewhat independently of each other.