Development of a Typology of Education Governance in the 50 States

• In Event: 26.080 - Roundtable Session 8
  In Roundtable Session: 26.080-2 - School Organization, Supervision, and Governance

Abstract

Decision-making rights shape pursuits of educational goals. This study employed Brewer and Smith’s framework of education governance to examine the structures, policies, and processes in each state’s K-12 education system. Using state education codes, constitutions, laws, and other primary sources, this study mapped each state’s approach to education governance by examining the relative (a) state role in education governance, (b) fragmentation of state policymaking, (c) span of state control beyond K-12, (d) differentiation of policies governing districts, (e) composition of State Board, and (f) political synchronicity at state and (g) local levels. Findings led to the creation of an eight-level typology sorting states by local versus state control, fragmented versus unified policy environment, and democratic versus politicized processes.

Authors

• Joanna R. Smith, University of Oregon

• Michael Thier, International Baccalaureate

• Hovanes Gasparian, University of Southern California

• Ross C Anderson, Educational Policy Improvement Center

• Yue Shen, University of Oregon

• Christine Pitts, University of Oregon