The Meaning of Care: Education Policy Interpretation in the Time of COVID-19

• In Event: Academic Outcomes During Times of Crises. Hanging Onto Hope: Studying the Dynamics of Schooling in Times of Crisis

Abstract

This two-part study—a content analysis of COVID-19 policy in Texas and an interview study—explores how theories of care can be used as a lens for examining education policy, and how those policies are then interpreted by caring high school principals. It also examines the role of student socioeconomic status in the interpretive process. Findings indicate that COVID policy focuses on providing measures for safety and support, communicating openly with education stakeholders, and adjusting academic rigor. Participants relied heavily on their ethic of care in the interpretive process, and always considered student socioeconomic status. This study makes a unique contribution to the literature in three areas: care theory, education policy interpretation, and the role of policy during a crisis.

Author

• Olivia A Kelly, Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning