"Leave Us Alone!" Understanding the Politics of Locally Controlled Rural School Districts

• In Event: Systems, Structures, Policies: Rural Implications

Abstract

Local control of public schools is part of a long-running debate in American education. Opponents argue it is economically and academically ineffective, whereas proponents assert it is essential due to the symbiotic relationship between rural schools and communities. The purpose of this study is to expand current understanding of how local control is enacted in rural New England communities. The study specifically focuses on school board enactment and resistance to non-local educational policies. Findings illustrate how locally controlled school boards resist policies that do not align with dominant pedagogical values. The study contributes to the field by expanding understanding of policy resistance and implementation in rural communities.

Author

• Daniella Hall, Northwestern University