School Climate Reforms Amid High-Stakes Accountability Systems: An Action-Network Analysis on Chilean Policies and Practices

• In Event: Roundtable Session 36
  In Roundtable Session: International Perspectives on Education Policy and Inequality

Abstract

In order to prevent school violence and improve the quality of school climate, school-wide school climate reforms need to take place. However, there is a gap between reseach findings, policies, and practices. This might be associated with a punitive policy environment enacted by accountability systems such as the NCLB. This study analyzed the Chilean accountability system as it relates to school climate policies. Using actor-network theory (ANT), policy documents and active interviews were analyzed to identify subject positions, (s)objects, devices, and interactions among them. Findings show that schools are interpelled to act as repondent defendants, and parents as clients and overlookers, through two main devices: a standardized high-stakes test that now includes school climate measures, and a national delation system.

Authors

• Verónica López, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso

• Carmen Gloria Nunez, The Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso

• Claudia Carrasco, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso

• Paula Ascorra, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso

• Vicente Sisto, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso

• Marian Bilbao, Universidad de Santiago de Chile