Survivance in a Policy-Laden World: Teacher Perspectives in the Age of Common Core

• In Event: 25.085 - Sheraton Roundtable One - Osgoode Ballroom
  In Roundtable Session: 25.085-5 - Navigating, Surviving, (Re)Constructing, Democratizing Policy and Practice

Abstract

This paper focuses on the relationship between policy creation and policy enactment through the use of an innovative qualitative research methodology, photo elicitation. Teachers in the initial implementation stages of Common Core State Standards were studied in two states through in-depth interviews, photographs captured by the participants, and other artifacts. Findings indicated the influence of bi-partisan politics on policy implementation as well as teachers tendencies to map previous practices onto the new standards. Additionally, data demonstrated the influence of state mandated assessment on teachers’ perceptions of the standards. This study provides new insights on teachers’ interpretation, evaluation, and self-reflection of the CCSS and the related practical experiences through a rigorous micro-analysis of their professional conversations with teacher educators/university researchers.

Authors

• Renee Moran, East Tennessee State University

• Karin J. Keith, East Tennessee State University

• Lashay Jennings, East TennesseeState University