Arenas of Accountability: The Politics of a New Education Governance Model in Maryland

• In Event: Navigating State Policy, Governance, and Reform

Abstract

This study examines Maryland’s Accountability & Implementation Board (AIB); a new governance body enacted to lead & monitor the implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future educational law. Using case study methods & Mazzoni’s (1991) arena model as the theoretical framework, we found a gap between the power AIB as demonstrated in legislation and the power of the board leveraged during the first year of governing P-12 education. Despite hopes for innovation and greater educational equity following the formation of the AIB, we found the board’s Executive Director to leverage and wield more power than the board. We found political actors such as the state superintendent to ignore the supervisory powers of the AIB during the first year of implementation.

Authors

• Joel Miller, University of Maryland

• Pamela Catherine Callahan, University of Maryland