Civic Participation in the Chilean K–12 School System: Divergent Tales of Influence

• In Event: Parent Voice and Student (Dis)Empowerment in School Choice Processes

Abstract

Purpose: We examine how educational legislation in Chile shapes civic participation in K-12 schools Design: Critical policy analysis of educational legislation related to civic participation in Chile enacted between 1990 and 2022. Findings: Collaboration and influence in decision-making processes remain limited. We see this exacerbated in private schools, endorsing power imbalances with educational stakeholders. Neoliberalism continues to heavily influence civic participation in the Chilean educational system, particularly in private education. While access to civic participation has improved, it has mostly been within fully public schools (only 4.8% of all Chilean students attend), limiting students’ power in advocacy, decision-making, and collaboration. Implications: We discuss the shortcomings of attempts to increase civic participation within an educational system guided by a neoliberal agenda.

Authors

• Francisca Alvarez-Figueroa, University of Manchester

• Ambar Hernandez Negrete, University of California - Davis

• Daniel Diaz, Universidad de Chile