The Influence of Policy Churn on a School Improvement Program in an Urban District

• In Event: School-Wide Improvement

Abstract

Urban schools are often under pressure of policy mandates to improve their schools by increasing student achievement and closing achievement gaps. Policy demands increase the difficulty of implementing programs in a climate of constant change. This mixed-method study of six schools in an urban district with a history of adopting and abandoning programs uses the lens of policy churn to examine perceptions of a district-wide behavior management program, its effects on program implementation, and implications for improving urban schools. Survey results and findings from qualitative data revealed policy churn influenced perceptions of the program in different ways. Higher implementation schools were fearful it would be discontinued and lower implementation schools were slow to implement, waiting for it to be dropped.

Authors

• Jean A. Patterson, Wichita State University

• Joel Abaya, Wichita State University

• Michael Argabright, Wichita State University

• Todd L Carter

• Chad Higgins, Moundridge USD 423

• Royce R. Powelson, Wichita State University

• Sherry D. Farrell, Seward County Community College

• Terri Gaeddert, Wichita State University

• Andria Williams, Wichita State University

• Roxann Clark, Northwestern Oklahoma State University