Mapping Policy Influence: Social Network Analysis of the Florida Empowerment Scholarship Program and Capital Sources

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 5:25 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: Policy and Competition in Private School Choice (Table 9)

Abstract

This study utilizes social network analysis (SNA) to address the challenge of tracing influence and capital within a dynamic public-private education marketplace. Drawing from theories in communications, organizational behavior, and policy analysis, we examine the development of Florida’s Empowerment Scholarship Program (FESP), shedding light on connections not only between direct financial investments but also emphasizing how patterns of capital flows and influence can lead to significant shifts in education policy over time. Beyond enhancing transparency and governance, our research seeks to uncover the origins of relationships between capital, discourse, and the web of influence operating within the context of education, as demonstrated by our analysis of a specific use case.

Authors

• Walter Fernando Balser, University of Florida

• Steven Michael Carlo, Monmouth University

• Parker Van Hart, University of Florida