EPPL 601 Educational Policy: Development and Analysis Week #3 Policy Framework

Context for Policy Shifting Social Context –Finances –Demographics –Philosophy of value of education Changes in how we view leadership –Shift to site level leadership –Links between local level and state –Flattening of hierarchy

Definitions of Policy Public policy is the dynamic and value- laden process through which a political system handles a public problem. –What assumptions do you have about the different values? –Does this definition resonate with you? Recall—law and policy are not identical. Impact?

Federalism! Courts can review statutes for interpretation (Case law) –How does this support the concept of federalism? –How might these decisions shift over time and context? –Where is the role of “values” in this process?

Policy Process Issue Definition Agenda Setting Policy Formulation Policy Adaption Implementation Evaluation

Issues Definition Occurs on multiple levels –National (Reform) –State (Demographics) –Local (Cultural context and issues) Shifts over time –The “new” trend –External pressures/context

Agenda Setting Who gets to decide? –Power –Grassroots How it is framed –Rhetoric –Market saturation

Policy Formulation Writing –Bills –Statutes –Rules/regulations Competing policies Compromises

Policy Adaption Voted in Congress/State legislatures Local school districts Timing –Bush—Not pass –Clinton—Goals 2000 –Bush—NCLB –Higher Ed Act—reauthorization

Implementation Depends on grassroots administrators –Motivation –Varying interpretation Ability to ignore Lack of accountability

Evaluation Accountability measure –What does the data show? –Is the policy doing what it was intended? Level of evaluation –Local –State –National Layer of administration

Concept of Coupling Loose coupling—events are responsive, but each preserves own identity –Dissolvability –Two systems have few variables/links in common Mechanisms –Technical Coupling—task-induced –Authority—responsibilities/ “boss”

Advantages of Loose Coupling Several means to an end Relative lack of coordination Relative absence of rules/regulations Occasions that no matter what you do— outcomes the same Decentralization Non-central to operations

Functions of Loose Couplings Some portions allowed to persist even if others crash and burn; seal off problems Independent sensing – know your environment pick up cues quickly Localized adaptation Retains greater number of mutations/uniqueness Local self-determination—think outposts Inexpensive to run

Limitations in Loose Coupling Not selective on what’s replicated/deleted Could follow environmental fads Forestall spread of good mutations Difficult to repair defective elements Need to negotiate with all (self) actors vs. group Hard to use as lever for change

For Systemic Ed Policy (Stds) Curriculum—consistent/conforms Curr Stratification—helps those low achievers reach common levels content Student Assess—allows for evaluation High Stakes Test-Cornerstone School Improvement-widespread adoption School Finance—levels playing field Ed Govern—inability of current system

Against Centralization Curriculum—disregards regional needs Curr Strat.—Diverse learners diff curr Student Assess—objective outcomes High Stakes Test-est low passing marks School Improvement-no system to link School Finance—getting $$ where needed Ed Govern—can’t function without buy-in ministry type culture