K-12 Ed Policy Implementation

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

From policy to implementation to practice, the course explores the intersection of students, parents, and educators in American K-12 public schools. The course includes a practical exploration of how district, state, and federal policies affect what happens in the school building while examining the myriad of influences, players, and interest groups. Students will analyze how policies such as school choice, mayoral control, universal preschool, and early college access intersect to create equity issues, focusing on deficiencies in people rather than policy. Students will critically analyze research, evaluate authors' motives, and explore how current events and politics influence education policy. Students will engage in real-world applications of content through short assignments and apply principles learned to their own policy questions.