Overview
Schools don’t exist in a vacuum. They are shaped by laws, budgets, and politics. Educational policy is where the rubber meets the road.
Core Idea
Equity vs. Equality:
- Equality: Giving everyone the same thing (same funding per student).
- Equity: Giving everyone what they need (more funding for poor students to close the gap).
Formal Definition (if applicable)
School Choice: Policies that allow families to choose which school their children attend (charter schools, vouchers), rather than being assigned by zip code.
Intuition
It’s a battleground.
- Left: Wants more funding, stronger unions, and equity.
- Right: Wants more choice, accountability, and efficiency.
Examples
- No Child Left Behind (NCLB): A US law that mandated standardized testing.
- Vouchers: Using public money to pay for private school tuition.
- Title IX: Prohibiting sex discrimination in education.
Common Misconceptions
- “Money doesn’t matter.” (It does, especially for low-income students, but how you spend it matters more.)
- “Private schools are better.” (When you control for socioeconomic status, the difference often disappears.)
Related Concepts
- Achievement Gap: The disparity in academic performance between groups of students.
- Teacher Unions: Powerful political actors.
- Desegregation: The legal effort to end racial segregation in schools.
Applications
- Elections: Education is a top voter issue.
- Civil Rights: Ensuring equal access.
- Economics: Education as an investment in the future workforce.
Criticism / Limitations
Policies are often made by politicians who have never taught a day in their lives. Unintended consequences are common.
Further Reading
- Ravitch, The Death and Life of the Great American School System
- Darling-Hammond, The Flat World and Education