Subverting the Messages: School Board Sensemaking of Federal and State Accountability Policies

• In Event: 58.054 - Power and Politics in State and Federal Policy: Polarized Discourse, Shifting Governmental Arrangements, Subversive Messages, and Influential Policy Networks

Abstract

Education policy implementation is ultimately in the hands of local leaders, who implement reforms based on their local interpretations. This qualitative of three locally controlled districts examines how school board members interpret external messaging regarding NCLB accountability reporting, and how their sense-making shapes their use of reporting on the local level. The study finds board members’ interpretations of the purpose of testing only partially aligned with state messaging. Instead, board members’ sense-making was highly influenced by federal messaging, and adapted to align with local needs and community context. As the nation prepares to shift to state, rather than federal accountability systems under ESSA, the findings provide timely insights as to how local leaders’ interpret accountability messaging.

Author

• Daniella Hall, Clemson University