Toocommon Schools: A Critical Policy Analysis of the Proliferation of Uncommon Schools

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session Thirteen
  In Roundtable Session: Enrollment, Policy, and Equity: The Impact of Policy and School-Level Decisions on School Choice (Table 12)

Abstract

Within education over the past two decades, “no-excuses” charter practices have spread widely. This project seeks to uncover the growth in influence of one charter management organization (CMO): Uncommon Schools. Knowledge reflects networks of power; charting its spread can reveal how the dynamics of power structure policy (Diem et al., 2014). Using a systematic search of publicly-available documents, this study identifies Uncommon’s reach at four distinct levels: state, local district, public university, and private organization. We found evidence of Uncommon’s practices across all levels in the United States and beyond, ranging from evaluation systems to teaching practices. This influence extends beyond the scale or success of the network, suggesting a growth driven by ideological stance rather than evidence.

Authors

• Matthew S. McCluskey, University of Vermont
  Presenting Author

• Madhu Narayanan, Portland State University
  Presenting Author