The Political Dynamics of School Choice: Negotiating Contested Terrain

by Fusarelli

• ISBN13: 9780312237530
• ISBN10: 0312237537
• eBook ISBN(s): 9781403973740
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-05-16
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Summary

Lance D. Fusarelli examines the relationship between the charter school and voucher issues: To what degree does political support for charter schools-from a coalition of teacher associations, school board groups, superintendents, and voucher advocates-slow or even stop the forces for vouchers? Or, do these coalitions, which successfully pushed charter school legislation through the legislature, actually fuel the fires of privatization? Charter schools legislation has enjoyed bipartisan support precisely because the threat of vouchers is so great. And, contrary to the strategy of voucher opponents, the spread of charter school increases, rather than alleviates, the push for vouchers.

Author Biography

Lance D. Fusarelli is Assistant Professor of Administration, Policy & Urban Education at Fordham University. He is co-author of Better Policies, Better Schools and co-editor of The Promises and Perils Facing Today's School Superintendent.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
List of Tables	xi
School Choice and the Politics of Reform	1	(14)
Cultural Dynamics: Political Culture and Language in Policymaking	15	(24)
Institutional Dynamics: The Power of Structure	39	(32)
Interest Group Dynamics: The Power of Coalitions	71	(42)
Organizational Learning Dynamics: The Utility of Experience?	113	(26)
The Political Dynamics of School Choice: Lessons Learned	139	(14)
Appendix A	153	(2)
Appendix B	155	(2)
Notes	157	(58)
About the Author	215	(2)
Index	217