The Politics of Standardized Testing: Bureaucratic Influence in Instruments Design

• In Event: Voice and Power in K-12 Education Policy Decisions

Abstract

This paper examines how bureaucratic expertise influences the design of national large-scale assessments (NLSAs), by examining the interplay between political and administrative domains. Through a comparative case study of Argentina and Mexico, using qualitative content analysis of interviews, policy documents, and observations, this research explores the impact of bureaucratic stability, specialized knowledge, and strategic action amid political scrutiny and budget constraints. Findings highlight in-house training and organizational identity as key enablers of bureaucratic influence and reveal differential opportunities for expert influence derived from distinct stakes and stability in the NLSA policy design. This research contributes to literature on the politics of education policymaking, offering insights into the conditions and mechanisms under which bureaucratic expertise impacts policy decisions in standardized testing.

Author

• Marina Lopez-Leavy, Autonomous University of Barcelona