This brief summarizes the findings of significant research studies dealing with school district governance and the political processes of local school districts. The bulk of the discussion focuses on the research of Harmon Zeigler and his colleagues, particularly on the study described in "Governing American Schools," by Zeigler, Jennings, and…

A case study illustrating the political influences on higher education in a hypothetical state is presented. Higher education became a target for reform by the state's governor, who expressed interest in the sharing of resources between institutions in close geographic proximity; supported the more extensive use of management tools as a means of…

Focusing on whether and how research actually contributes to the formation of public policy, this paper explores the critical problems in the linkage between science production and the systems that formulate educational policy. The authors suggest that the utilization of social research is limited more by problems of integrating research into the…

This paper discusses the current attitude of Congress and the administration toward federal support of education and suggests what steps educators can take to encourage the enactment of desirable legislation. The author argues that it is both appropriate and necessary for professional educators to involve themselves in the political progress, and…

This monograph reports an exploratory study of legislative behavior in the field of education. The study sampled a large number of legislators' rollcall votes involving educational policy under various conditions of partisanship. The specific objectives of the study were to (1) determine the changes that occur in patterns of rollcall voting on…

A conflict-cooperation-conflict model is offered of the genesis, functioning, and aftermath of an inter-governmental and inter-professional program in a major city. Outputs prior to this linkage are perceived as generating major conflicts which eventually were settled by decisions to parcel out certain school building responsibilities among city…

Examines the role of planning in the process of legitimating educational policy decisions. Review of the history of educational planning indicates how closely its origins and development have been linked with considerations of economic development. Suggests that planners probe further into the political economy of education as a basis for a…

Argues that the combined forces of recession, inflationary fears, social tranquility, the eschewal of crusades both domestic and foreign, and a commitment to leaner and more frugal government all seem to militate against a dramatic upsurge in support of the social sciences. This pattern is ominously paralleled by a decline in undergraduate…

Asserts that the social science business is here to stay. The use of survey research, of invoking the learned as a form of symbolic action, of obfuscating the realities of limited budget and limited throughput and limited drive by "researching the problem," all provide a flywheel that shows every sign not merely of stability but of acceleration.…

Notes and predicts persistence in the nature of the links between social scientists and the polity, and speculates that we may also be on the threshold of basic alterations in, or at least challenges to, these traditional arrangements. This prognosis is essentially hopeful for those of us who are social scientists and socialists. At issue is how…

Argues that as important as what the Carter administration will do is what the Carter victory has already done: it decisively ended the Nixon era in American society. The Carter administration will attempt to synthesize the striving for excellence of the Nixon era and the push for participation of the King era. (Author/JM)

Concludes that the idea of practice is so important at this time because the notion of practice (of the fusion of theoretical practical knowledge, of the public and private life, of expert and citizen) is threatening to the institutions and groups whose continued dominance rests in part on their privileged claim to truth: the large corporations,…

Examines the main thrust of educational policymaking in Bangladesh during 1971-81 and compares policy goals with achievements. Finds there have been failures, but suggests underlying explanations for the persistent gap between policy goals and implementation come from the wider socio-political context in which educational policy is formulated and…

Health education advocates should improve relationships with legislators of health education programs through: (1) getting to know legislators; (2) understanding the legislative process; (3) providing factual information to legislators; (4) respecting the legislative institution; (5) taking small steps toward large legislative goals; (6) linking…

The highly sectorized research and development system in Sweden, with many specialized research funding boards, has led to a need for coordination and overall research priorities at the national level. Demands for socially relevant research, conflict over applied versus basic research, and the first national legislation on research policy are…