Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgements

Section I – The U.S. Educational System

Chapter One – Federal Education Policy

A Nation at Risk catalyzing education reform

The Governors catalyze stronger federal involvement

Obama administration and The Race to the Top’s avoidance of ESEA

Comprehension Questions

Discussion Questions

Activities

Further Reading

Reference List

Chapter Three – Local School Districts, Citywide Change, and Rural Dilemmas

Influencing the Local Level

District Consolidation

Community Control

School Boards

Compositions of school boards

School board responsibilites

Consolidation of power in cities: Mayoral Control

Policy Regimes and Civic Capacity

Comprehension Questions

Discussion Questions

Activities

Further Reading

Reference List

Chapter Four – Influential Policy Actors

National and state actors

Teachers Unions

Parents/Parent Teachers Association

The new major actors

Foundations

Education Management Organizations

Business community

Think tanks

Research-Practice Partnerships

Comprehension Questions

Discussion Questions

Activities

Further Reading

Reference List

Section II – The Policy Process

Chapter Five: Public Policy and Power

Rational Decision Making Process

Policy as a Political Process

Policy as Power

Policy as Argument

Process Matters

The Importance of Ethical Policy

Defining the Policy Process

Comprehension Questions

Activities

Further Reading

Reference List

Chapter Nine: Sustainability and Scale

Institutionalization

Pillars of Institutionalism

Scale

A comprehensive model of scale

Improvement science

Comprehension questions

Discussion questions

Activities

Further Reading

Reference List

Section III – Ideals of the U.S. Educational System

Chapter Ten: Understanding U.S. Ideals

Equity

Markets

Societal control

U.S. Political Parties

Discussion Questions

Activities

Further Reading

Reference List

Chapter 11 - Market Driven Reform: The Foundation for the Accountability Movement

Market Theory

Rational Choice Theory

Critique of a Market Based System

Academic achievement in market models.

Equity and markets.

Vouchers

Research on vouchers.

Charter Schools

Funding of charter schools

History of charters

Research on charters

Comprehension questions

Discussion questions

Activity

Further Reading

Reference List

Chapter 12 - Equity

Power

Critical Pedagogy

Critical Race Theory

Equity and accountability

Opportunity to Learn as a way to frame equity and accountability

Equity and the Courts

Race and the Courts

Social Class and the Courts

Student voice and the right to participate

Policy topics with an equity focus

Early-childhood education

Community Schools

Comprehension Questions

Discussion Questions

Activities

Further Reading

Reference List

About the Author

Dana L. Mitra is Professor of Education (Educational Theory & Policy) at The Pennsylvania State University.

Reviews

'A unique blend of education policy analysis concepts with the underlying political structure and actors that influence the outcomes of policies. The broad scope and specific insights of the book makes it essential for both students, educators, and scholars.'—Michael Kirst, president California State Board of Education, Professor Emeritus , Stanford University'Educational Change and the Political Process' brings together issues foundational to educational policy with recent debates over such issues as education governance, funding and accountability in a well-written, accessible textbook. It clearly explains how education policy problems, opportunities, actors and instruments differ by location in the education policy system, raise different challenges of implementation and evaluation, and play out in terms of major touchpoints for policy and practice. A useful addition: each chapter concludes with questions and activities designed to engage students in concrete discussions of the chapter’s policy tradeoffs and perspectives. I know of no other textbook that affords this all-inclusive, system-wide treatment of education policy making—and in-depth reference list. Mitra’s textbook provides an invaluable resource for instructors and students of education policy, and will be relevant for years to come.'—Milbrey McLuaghlin, David Jacks Professor Emeritus of Education and Public Policy, Stanford University