ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNANCE OF AMERICAN EDUCATION

1. ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNANCE OF AMERICAN EDUCATION Chapter Fourteen: The Federal Level of Policy Making Presented by Jacqueline Leedy-Chamberlain Professor: Dr. Lauren Larsen

2. Ch. 14: The Federal Level of Policy Making In this chapter, we will review the growth of federal power over education. While Washington previously contributed little to education, it now provides a plethora of programs and funding to schools across the nation. Of course, we will also discuss as we have previously, how Federal involvement in education has grown exponentially since the passage of NCLB.

3. Overview of Federal Educational Governance • Kennedy and Johnson pass the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in 1965 relying on the power “to tax and spend for the general welfare.” Monies are governed by strict regulations. LegalFramework The federal government was largely absent from education until the middle of the 20th Century, when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik. After which, reliance on Article I Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution was used. Ch. 14: The Federal Level of Policy Making

4. Overview of Federal Educational Governance, cont. Scope of Federal Authority • Since the scope of the federal authority over public education is narrow, the government has moved cautiously in passing legislation governing education. Major Policy Actors at National Level Governmental Policy Actors at the Federal Level Individuals: President, U.S. Secretary of Education, Chairs of the education committees in Congress Groups: U.S. Department of Education, Congress, Federal courts 2. Major Interest Groups Seeking to Influence Education Policy Education Interest Groups: American Association of School Administrators, American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association, National School Boards Association Business Interest Groups: Business Roundtable, Committee for Economic Development, National Association of Manufacturers, U.S. Chamber of Commerce 3. Major Foundations and Think Tanks Interested in Education Foundations: Annie Casey Foundation, Carnegie Corporation, Danforth Foundation, Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Spencer Foundation Think Tanks: American Enterprise Institute, Brookings Institution, Economic Policy Institute, Heritage Foundation Ch. 14: The Federal Level of Policy Making

5. A History of Federal Involvement in Education Early Semi-Silence of Washington Smith-Hughes Act of 1917 1946- National School Lunch Act Ch. 14: The Federal Level of Policy Making

6. A History of Federal Involvement in Education Ch. 14: The Federal Level of Policy Making

7. The Impact of Federal Involvement on Politics Ch. 14: The Federal Level of Policy Making

8. The Impact of Federal Involvement on Politics Federal Courts and Politics • Federal court decisions influence educational policy. • Any court decision involves settling a dispute between two or more parties, which is why both parties want certain judges appointed to federal courts. • Judiciary is not necessarily neutral when making decisions. For example from 1954-1980, federal courts repeatedly upheld desegregation policies, then in 1992, the Supreme Court ruled that if segregation is caused by demographics, districts can maintain segregated schools! Ch. 14: The Federal Level of Policy Making

9. No Child Left Behind • Many scholars and political scientists have argued that NCLB dramatically changed federal education policy. One such political scientist, Patrick McGuinn argued that NCLB differs from ESEA because: • Broadens the scope of federal education policy • Shifts federal education policy from focus on inputs to outputs • Is far more prescriptive than previous laws

10. History of NCLB Timeline 1983-Nation at Risk published 1987-Gallup polls showed 87% of Americans believed federal government should require state and local educational authorities to meet minimum national standards 1989-G.W. Bush adopted 6 national goals that did not include national standards 1994-Clinton backed Goals 2000 2002-NCLB passes by Congress Ch. 14: The Federal Level of Policy Making

11. Major Provisions of NCLB • Reduce “achievement gap” between the academic performance of Euro-American and Asian American compared to African American and Hispanic students. • Requires states receiving federal funds under ESEA to set up standards-based testing program. • Teachers must become “highly qualified.” • Testing overhauls which are extensive, and require schools to make AYP. • Severe penalties enforced for schools who fail to perform. Ch. 14: The Federal Level of Policy Making

12. NCLB • Achievement gap is now out in the open. • Forces schools and districts to monitor the performance of subgroups. • Will permit the development of database of student test scores. • Discourages districts and states from hiring under-qualified teachers. • Law makes it harder for educators to neglect professional responsibility. • Law has never been funded at levels originally promised. • AYP reflects only the absolute scores made by children (no value-added component). • Unrealistic goals for U.S. schools (i.e., 100% proficiency in reading and math by 2013). • Teaching to the test, other subject matter gets neglected. • This narrows the curriculum which may raise test scores at expense of providing quality education. Strengths Weaknesses Ch. 14: The Federal Level of Policy Making

13. Conclusion Since the mid-19th Century, the federal government has moved from playing a minor role in education, to playing a much larger and more powerful role. Congress, as well as the federal courts have all influenced education policy, and the trend seems that it will only continue with the passage of NCLB.