Attitudes About a Counter-Cultural Educational Policy: A study of the new school choice system in Chile

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 7:45 am - Gold 1
  In Roundtable Session: Markets, Media, and the Politics of School Choice

Abstract

This paper addresses the implementation of a counter-cultural education policy in Chile, which radically changed the school choice process. This research aimed to study how the communication process associated with the Chile’s School Admission System (SAE) impacts the parents’ attitudes toward this policy. A mixed design was developed, consisting of applying a survey and holding focus groups. The results show that parents express a depersonalization of the school-choosing process, which is now mediated by technology. In addition, those who have experienced more significant difficulties through the online platform are more likely to have a negative attitude toward the SAE. These results show that communication is fundamental for correctly implementing an educational policy, especially when it involves a cultural change.

Authors

• Cristian Cabalin, Universidad de Chile

• Yahira Larrondo, Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana