Chapter 1 Policy- What it is and Where it Comes From Dr. Dan Bertrand

The transformation of the Education Policy Environment The Way it Used to Be: The Way it Used to Be: –Until 1980’s public schools were respected institutions –Funding was adequate –State governments delegated most of their authority over public education to the local school district –Education policy was developed within the iron triangle (Legislative committees, ISBE and lobbying groups)

The New Policy Environment Today, business, media, and political leaders consider public education to be in crisis. Today, business, media, and political leaders consider public education to be in crisis. Financial emergencies Financial emergencies The state exerts authority over public schools by issuing many new policies and proposals. The state exerts authority over public schools by issuing many new policies and proposals. Educators are seen as part of the problem. Educators are seen as part of the problem.

Reasons for these changes Economic changes: Economic changes: –WWII boom followed by economic slow down in the 1970’s –Citizens more reluctant to increase taxes –Politicians unwilling to increase taxes so they try to reduce spending on public services –Resulting in increasing disparity between the rich and the poor. –More children growing up in poverty.

Demographic changes Baby boomers and political concern about paying for their retirements and funding their health care cost. Baby boomers and political concern about paying for their retirements and funding their health care cost. More older people who are less attuned to the needs of education. More older people who are less attuned to the needs of education. More multicultural- increased diversity. More multicultural- increased diversity.

Ideological Shift The focus of educational politics has shifted from equality issues to issues relating to excellence, accountability and choice. The focus of educational politics has shifted from equality issues to issues relating to excellence, accountability and choice. Criticize schools for alleged inefficiency and insensitivity to the market. Criticize schools for alleged inefficiency and insensitivity to the market. Ideologies of business and the religious right have lead to increased skepticism. Ideologies of business and the religious right have lead to increased skepticism.

Changing Role of School Leaders Reallocation of Authority Reallocation of Authority –Feds have less authority over schools than in 1980 –Until recently states delegated much of their authority to local districts –In 1980’s states began to take back some of their authority.

District Leadership State and national issues are large district leaders main concern. State and national issues are large district leaders main concern. Effective superintendents must understand politics at the local, state and national levels. Effective superintendents must understand politics at the local, state and national levels. Central office administrators must understand how their district interfaces with business, government, community groups and social agencies. Central office administrators must understand how their district interfaces with business, government, community groups and social agencies.

Public Leadership Public school administrators are being transformed from bureaucratic leaders to public leaders. Public school administrators are being transformed from bureaucratic leaders to public leaders. They are called to act outside their district and to function as leaders in networks of organizations. They are called to act outside their district and to function as leaders in networks of organizations. –Where they have no hierarchical status and must rely upon leadership tools such as persuasion, coalition strategies and political strategies.

Defining Policy Public policy is the dynamic and value laden process through which a political system handles a public problem. It includes a government’s expressed intentions and official enactments as well as its consistent patterns of activity and inactivity. Public policy is the dynamic and value laden process through which a political system handles a public problem. It includes a government’s expressed intentions and official enactments as well as its consistent patterns of activity and inactivity.

Policy and Law Policy and Statutes Policy and Statutes –Statutes are laws enacted by the legislature. –Most statutes are worded in general terms with little detail about implementation. –Rules and regulations are provided by governmental agencies. –Courts have the right to review statutes to interpret them and to determine their constitutionality.

Policy and Law Two battles occur during the passage of a statute. Two battles occur during the passage of a statute. –One committee determines the level of funding to support an educational statute –Another committee determines the wording of the statute. Implementors of most educational policies are superintendents, principals and teachers. Implementors of most educational policies are superintendents, principals and teachers. Policies are usually altered during implementation. Policies are usually altered during implementation.

Classical Stage Model of Policy Process Issue definition Issue definition Agenda setting Agenda setting –List of subjects or problems that is receiving serious attention. Policy Formulation Policy Formulation –Written draft of a proposed statute is a bill Policy Adoption Policy Adoption –Voted on by an appropriate governmental body- school board, legislature, etc.

Classical Stage Model of Policy Process Implementation Implementation –Most must be implemented at a grass roots level. –Success of implementation often means motivating and providing the resources for educators. Evaluation Evaluation –To determine if they work the way they were supposed to –Applied research- universities or think tanks

Policy Analysis Defined as the “evaluation of alternative government policies or decisions to arrive at the best policy or decision in light of given goals, constraints and conditions”. Defined as the “evaluation of alternative government policies or decisions to arrive at the best policy or decision in light of given goals, constraints and conditions”. Policy studies have largely replaced the studies of educational policies. Policy studies have largely replaced the studies of educational policies. Overall, objective is to improve the quality of public policy by providing information and suggesting a range of solutions to public problems. Overall, objective is to improve the quality of public policy by providing information and suggesting a range of solutions to public problems.

Types of Policy Analysis Monitoring Monitoring –Systematically collect data relevant to a policy domain an to the on-going policy process. Forecasting Forecasting –Predicting what policy issues will be important in 5 to 10 years.

Types of Policy Analysis Evaluations Evaluations –Provide information about how well the policy is achieving the purposes for which it was designed. Prescriptions Prescriptions –Outlines the options open to policy makers an may recommend which would be most desirable.

The School Leader and Policy Studies Act as hierarchical leaders within their organization and as public leaders in a broader community. Act as hierarchical leaders within their organization and as public leaders in a broader community. As Policy Makers by recommending a policy revision to the school board, developing a manual or writing a discipline code. As Policy Makers by recommending a policy revision to the school board, developing a manual or writing a discipline code. As Implementors of policy they must develop a plan to carry out the policies. As Implementors of policy they must develop a plan to carry out the policies.

The School Leader and Policy Studies As Followers of Policy Issues, they must be more active in educational policy than ever before by being informed and active. As Followers of Policy Issues, they must be more active in educational policy than ever before by being informed and active. As Influencers of Policy, they are in a position to exercise influence on the policy process on the state and federal level. As Influencers of Policy, they are in a position to exercise influence on the policy process on the state and federal level.