The Political Dynamics of School Choice: Negotiating Contested Terrain

ISBN-13: 9780312237530 / Angielski / Twarda / 2003 / 223 str.

Lance D. Fusarelli

Opis

This title examines a question about the relationship between the charter school and voucher issues: to what degree does political support for charter schools from a coalition of teacher associations, school board groups, superintendents, and voucher advocates slow or even stop the forces for vouchers? Or, do these coalitions, which successfully pushed charter school legislation through the legislature, actually fuel the fires of privatization? Charter schools legislation has enjoyed bipartisan support precisely because the threat of vouchers is so great. And, contrary to the strategy of voucher opponents, the spread of charter school increases, rather than alleviates, the push for vouchers.

Spis treści

INTRODUCTION School Choice and the Politics of Education Reform Birth and Growth of School Choice Rethinking Theories of Politics and Policymaking Organization of the Book A Note on Methods A Final Word CULTURAL DYNAMICS: POLITICAL CULTURE AND LANGUAGE IN POLICYMAKING The Politics of Language Playing Language Games with School Choice: A Case Study Language Games, Political Culture and the Structure of Political Discourse Conclusion INSTITUTIONAL DYNAMIS: THE POWER OF STRUCTURE Historical Institutionalism Bringing the State Back In Institutional Theory and Education Reform Institutional Dynamics and the Politics of School Choice School Choice and Partisan Realignment Constraining Choice: Institutional Effects in Comparative Perspective Conclusion GOVERNERS AS POLICY ENTREPRENEURS: INSTITUTIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS Gubernatorial Turnover in Florida Gubernatorial Turnover in New York Gubernatorial Turnover in Texas Institutional and Environmental Constraints on Gubernatorial Leadership Conclusion ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING DYNAMICS: THE UTILITY OF EXPERIENCE Policy Ideas, Research Utilization, and Organizational Learning Organizational Learning, Rationality, and Politics Organizational Learning Processes in State Politics Research Utilization on Charter Schools Research Utilization on Vouchers Organizational Learning, School Choice and the Dynamics of Policymaking Organizational Learning in School Choice: Evidence from Other States INTEREST GROUP DYNAMICS: THE POWER OF COALITIONS Interest Group Dynamics in Texas Vouchers, Interest Groups and Advocacy Coalitions Charter Schools, Interest Groups and Advocacy Coalitions School Choice and Advocacy Coalition Activism in Comparative Perspective Conclusion LEGISLATIVE DYNAMICS: WHERE POLICY STREAMS COME TOGETHER The Outcomes of Legislative Dynamics Political Learning: The Benefits of Losing Ongoing Conflicts Institutionalization and Isomorphism within the Charter School Movement: The End of the Revolution? Conclusion

O autorze

LANCE D. FUSARELLI is Assistant Professor of Administration, Policy & Urban Education at Fordham University. He is co-author of Better Policies, Better Schools and co-editor of The Promises and Perils Facing Today's School Superintendent.