The Politics of Education Policy

How and why do some educational ideas become law? Understanding "what works" in education is only part of the challenge. Lasting impact also requires knowing how to get effective education policy under consideration, get it adopted and implemented, and how to sustain political support for policy over time. This course explores the politics and governance of U.S. K-12 education policy 1954-present. We examine agenda setting, policy formulation and implementation, key institutions, actors, and theories of policy-making, as well as education policy debates and developments surrounding issues such as education finance, desegregation, teacher unions, school boards, school choice, accountability, state takeovers, school closures, curriculum, free speech, civics, and more. We explore these topics through a mix of interactive lectures and small group activities that will require students to actively apply their learnings. There are no pre-requisites.