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Delve into the significance of policy change in driving systematic improvements for gifted education. Learn about policy making dynamics, the importance of influencing policies, and how to navigate formal and informal policy landscapes to enhance educational opportunities for gifted students.
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Importance of Policy Change! Mary Ruth Coleman, Ph.D. Senior Scientist, Emeritus FPG Child Development Institute University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
In gratitude for all we learned from James J. Gallagher! This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
Guiding Questions • What is “Policy”? • Why is policy so important? • How can we influence policies?
What Is Policy??? The rules and regulations that guide the allocation of scare resources to meet unlimited needs. ~James Gallagher (2006)
Policies Answers these Questions: • What resources will be allocated? • Who will receive these resources? • How will the resources be distributed? • In what ways will the cost/benefit be evaluated?
Policy making can be viewed as “Problem-Solving” • Thought and Jot: • What is one challenge you face in your work with gifted education that policy could help you address? • What level(s) policy change would be needed? (Federal, State, District?)
Policy is critical because once it is in place it signals a systemic and sustainable approach.
With Policy, Decisions Move From: • Hidden • Inconsistent • Unreliable • Shifting • Person-dependent • Transparent • Consistent • Reliable • Sustainable • People-dependent
Person vs. People Dependent • Reflect and Respond: • What are some pros and cons of decisions being “person” and “people” dependent?
Systems are made up of people and people influence, make, and implement policy! This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
Policies can be either formal or informal – what we say vs. what we do! Formal Informal Oral Tradition (Interpretation) Tacit Approval Social Compliance Social Acceptance • Written Down (Codified) • Officially Approved • Accountability • Consequences
And then there's Phantom Policy… • Policy that is formal, but, that rarely gets implemented…. • Informal policy that is rigidly adhered to…
What are some examples of Phantom Policies?Why or How do Policies become Phantom?What can we do to prevent Phantom Policy? • Early Entrance to Kindergarten… • Credit by exam in High School… • We can only nominate a student for GT services in May – for the next year… • We can not label a student for both GT and Special Education • We are not allowed to teach books that will be used later in a higher grade…
Be careful what you wish for…once a policy is in place it is hard to change! This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
Hitting the Policy Sweet Spot Between… • Ridge and Prescriptive • Flexible and Descriptive Policies must be implemented in a range of contexts, given a variety of circumstances, and must sustain over time as things change.
To Influence or Change Policy We Must: • Identify the problem or challenge we wish to address. • Ascertain the target audience (who will this help) and the resources (what is needed) • Determine the process for formalizing the policy. • Engage the people who need to be part of the policy making and implementation.
Select One of the Proposed NAGC Policy Documents to review at your table • In what ways does this policy work to address a “problem” or “challenge”? • Who is the primary target audience for this policy and what resources would be needed to implement it? • What process would you need to follow to formalize this policy? • Who would you need to engage to get this done?
