Policy studies for education leaders

Exercises

Chapter 1

1. Questions and Activities for discussion

1.1 Develop a list of current policy issues in your state, district, or building. Situate each in a stage of the policy process.

1.2 What mayor education policy initiatives has your state government made during the last decade? How have the initiatives affected your school and district?

1.3 Select one of the following policy issues and describe the current status of your state’s policy regarding this issue: school finance equity, school choice, the level of student achievement, or accountability for teachers and administrators. Be sure to consider not only formal laws but also funding levels and patterns of government inaction.

1.4 Identify and describe an instance in which school administrators you know have acted as public leaders to influence the policy process.

2. Pro-Con Debate: SHOULD POLITICS BE KEPT OUT OF

EDUCATION? YES: The education of our children is much

too important to permit it to become entangled with politics. Of course, because public money funds public schools some form of government oversight must exist. Ideally this oversight should be provided by a governance body chosen through nonpartisan elections. It should have the authority to provide general policy guidelines for the schools.

However, those policies should be carried out by professional educators who have considerable freedom to act without interference. After all, professionals are knowledgeable about children, curriculum, and teaching methods. They may make mistakes, but they are more likely to make decisions in the best interests of children than are politicians. Politics and education do not mix.

NO: Public schools are funded by tax money and are under the authority of state legislatures, school boards, and the courts. This means that politics cannot be kept out of public education. Even when education is governed by “non-partisan” boards, political activity continues. However, it is relatively quiet and hidden, making it difficult for ordinary citizens to understand and influence it.

Openness about the political nature of education is more democratic and can encourage leaders to develop governance structure and laws that facilitate healthy political activity. The idea that politics and education do not mix is an illusion.

3.NEWS STORY FOR ANALYSIS:

PROPOSAL FOR MORE TESTING DRAWS CRITICISM

BALTIMORE, MD-The proposal that Maryland could expand its school testing program to more grades is drawing criticism from parents and teachers, who contend that instruction already is too focused on preparing for exams. “Teachers are up to their eyeballs in testing,” said Patricia Forester, president of the Maryland State Teacher Association.

The recommendation this week for Maryland to add a new batch of testing for grades four, six, and seven was one of many suggestions from Achieve, Inc., a national nonprofit group that supports standards-based education. The group—which was commissioned by the state to study its reform efforts—is expected to influence the work of a task force appointed by the state superintendent to draw up a 10-year blueprint for public education in Maryland. Both groups recommended that M1ryland develop a statewide curriculum—a proposal supported by local superintendents as well as by the state superintendent.

But for parents and teachers who contend that schools spend too much time getting third, fifth, and eighth graders ready for the spring exams, the proposal to test more grades prompted a sharp reaction. “All the schools seem to be doing is processing kids for the exams,” said Chuck La Porte, parent of a middle-school child.

In recommending that Maryland expand testing, Achieve officials said such a move would dovetail with President Bush’s education plan calling for states to begin annual testing in grades three trough eight. Although the House and Senate are still negotiating a final education reform bill, both chambers have passed legislation requiring annual school-wide testing. Most educators believe it will be part of the final federal plan, forcing states such as Maryland to expand their programs.

• But if the state were to expand its testing program, it could become a political issue. “I’ve been hearing that my constituents have a lot of concerns,” said Audrey Scott, potential candidate for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. “If we end up with more testing, it could very, very well become part of the next election.”

• (Adapted by permission of the publisher from H. Libit, “Proposal for More Testing Draws Criticism,” Baltimore Sun, October 3, 2001, p.1B. Copyright 2001 by the Baltimore Sun.)

Questions:

• 1. What policy issues are mentioned in the article? For each, justify your opinion that it is a policy issue.

• 2. Situate each policy issue in a stage of the policy process.

• 3. Describe the policy which the State of Maryland is following.

• 4. List the political figures and groups mentioned in the article.