In Search of Excellence or Political Posturing: Understanding Virginia's Policy Decisions on Common Core Standards

• In Event: 69.056 - Roundtable Session 31
  In Roundtable Session: 69.056-4 - Policy and Politics in U.S. School Reform

Abstract

This study uses complexity theory to understand why education stakeholders in the Commonwealth of Virginia decided to reject the adoption of Common Core standards. This study is important because policy decisions cannot be explained by convenient linear approaches and explanations in spite of temptations by policy makers, politicians, practitioners and media outlets to do so. Findings show that federal and state values around Common Core differed fundamental in spite of surface political discourse suggesting otherwise. This paper illustrates why this is so and also questions how espoused values can be used strategically as political posturing

Authors

• Jay Paredes Scribner, Old Dominion University

• Karen L. Sanzo, Old Dominion University

• Angela Rhett, Newport News Public Schools