Run by Others: School Autonomy in Shanghai Entrusted Management Reform

• In Event: Park Central Roundtable Session 1
  In Roundtable Session: Autonomy Issues for Schools and Leaders

Abstract

Drawing on PISA databases, the OECD has referenced high-performing East Asian societies to justify the emergence of school-to-school collaboration and the promotion of school autonomy. This paper reflects on Shanghai’s experience of the entrusted management reform, which aimed to enhance effectiveness and performance of ‘weak’ schools through devolving greater autonomy of governance and management to their entrusted bodies (i.e. ‘good’ schools and professional agencies). However, the empirical data shows that rather than becoming the intermediate level of school governance and management, the entrusted body constitutes the new school leadership as advisers and supporters. While the government has retained its ‘criteria power’, this reform has only redistributed ‘operational power’ between the ‘weak’ school and the entrusted body.

Author

• Yun You, East China Normal University