This paper examines the underlying political and institutional theories that policymakers are embracing as they approve of new mayoral takeovers of public schools, discussing what has fostered this recent governance change that reverses the century-old progressive effort to remove mayors from school governance. Some of the reasons for mayoral…

The evolution and governing structure for teacher education and certification provide the context for analyzing the probable impact and issues caused by the implementation of performance-based teacher education (PBTE). Because the concept of PBTE is still being refined, such an analysis must be of a prescriptive and speculative nature. However,…

This paper examines the recent trend of mayoral influence over and control of education. In a number of major cities, governance has shifted to mayors in the hope that such changes would lead to improved school quality and student achievement, and less scandal in the school systems. Throughout the twentieth century, various reforms led to the…

This paper explores the future of school finance through an examination of the size and distribution of future populations, the future of the economy and its effect on money available for schools, and the political context within which decisions will be made. It projects this knowledge over the decade of the 1980s and makes future predictions…

The papers in this report fall into three focus areas: (1) new goals and objectives for educational institutions, with a stress on normative analysis of public policy alternatives and a reexamination of prior assumptions on which research is based; (2) the political education of youth, with a particular examination of directions in research on…

This report, the result of a 5-day conference on the politics of education, reviews the four research focus areas covered during the conference: (1) new goals and objectives for educational institutions, (2) the political education of youth, (3) analysis of the governance of educational institutions, and (4) the study of input/output/feedback…

In trying to insulate school boards from city politics and political parties, early reformers severed board connections with other service providers. Today, worsening conditions for children and their families require "undoing" these reforms and transforming the board's role. Playing a smaller role in some executive, judicial, and…

This book offers a comprehensive analysis and description of the political aspects of American education, utilizing both empirical data and case studies on the politics of education. Included are two case studies of recent school policies, which focus on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 and the school desegregation…

This booklet is one of a series of reports addressing the most critical issues confronting state boards of education throughout the United States. Each report attempts to present a concise, informative review and analysis of the best and most current information available on one of these critical topics. This booklet focuses on improving…

The best response to this period of retrenchment and lack of support for education is more aggressive political activity at the state and local levels. The key to success is building coalitions among educational interest groups and potential allies in other services. Although the federal government greatly expanded its support of education in the…

This analysis of the changing balance in who controls the schools contends that local authorities have been slowly losing authority to the states. Moreover, within the local districts, the central offices are assuming more control in such matters as curriculum content and state testing programs. The paper begins with an overview of recent…

Local control is emphasized in this examination of the roles of state, federal, and local governments in education policy and change. Federal and state role priorities should be to provide resources and stimulation for the major decisions and changes at the school site. The role of the state in school district governance, which has steadily been…

This report, supported by case studies in Florida (ED508098), Georgia (ED508099), New York (ED508100), and Oregon (ED508101), identifies and examines policy options available to states that are interested in creating sustained K-16 reform. The findings move the K-16 agenda forward by proposing a set of state policy levers that can be used to…

This case study is part of a broader research project examining state policies and governance structures that span K-12 and postsecondary education. The New York Board of Regents oversees all education in the state and has been in place for over 200 years; this lends the regents' office a legitimacy and tradition unlike any other state education…

This case study is part of a broader research project examining state policies and governance structures that span K-12 and postsecondary education. Georgia was the first state to have state and regional P-16 councils, and its regents' office in the University System of Georgia oversees a variety of projects that focus on connecting K-12 and…