Challenging the One Best System
The Portfolio Management Model and Urban School Governance
Published on 30. November 2020
Book
Hardback
312 pages
978-1-68253-571-4 (ISBN)
Description
In Challenging the One Best System, a team of leading education scholars offers a rich comparative analysis of the set of urban education governance reforms collectively known as the 'portfolio management model.' They investigate the degree to which this model-a system of schools operating under different types of governance and with different degrees of autonomy-challenges the standard structure of district governance famously characterized by David Tyack as 'the one best system.'
The authors examine the design and enactment of the portfolio management model in three major cities: New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Denver. They identify the five interlocking mechanisms at the core of the model-planning and oversight, choice, autonomy, human capital, and school supports-and show how these are implemented differently in each city. Using rich qualitative data from extensive interviews, the authors trace the internal tensions and tradeoffs that characterize these systems and highlight the influence of historical and contextual factors as well. Most importantly, they question whether the portfolio management model represents a fundamental restructuring of education governance or more incremental change, and whether it points in the direction of meaningful improvement in school practices.
Drawing on a rigorous, multimethod study, Challenging the One Best System represents a significant contribution to our understanding of system-level change in education.
The authors examine the design and enactment of the portfolio management model in three major cities: New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Denver. They identify the five interlocking mechanisms at the core of the model-planning and oversight, choice, autonomy, human capital, and school supports-and show how these are implemented differently in each city. Using rich qualitative data from extensive interviews, the authors trace the internal tensions and tradeoffs that characterize these systems and highlight the influence of historical and contextual factors as well. Most importantly, they question whether the portfolio management model represents a fundamental restructuring of education governance or more incremental change, and whether it points in the direction of meaningful improvement in school practices.
Drawing on a rigorous, multimethod study, Challenging the One Best System represents a significant contribution to our understanding of system-level change in education.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Library binding
Dimensions
Height: 228 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
545 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-68253-571-4 (9781682535714)
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Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Katrina E. Bulkley is professor of educational leadership at Montclair State University.
Julie A. Marsh is a professor of education policy at the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California and faculty director of Policy Analysis for California Education.
Katharine O. Strunk is a professor of education policy and, by courtesy, economics and the Clifford E. Erickson Distinguished Chair in Education at Michigan State University.
Douglas N. Harris is professor and chair of the Department of Economics and the Schlieder Foundation Chair in Public Education at Tulane University.
Ayesha K. Hashim is assistant professor of policy, leadership, and school improvement at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Education.
Julie A. Marsh is a professor of education policy at the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California and faculty director of Policy Analysis for California Education.
Katharine O. Strunk is a professor of education policy and, by courtesy, economics and the Clifford E. Erickson Distinguished Chair in Education at Michigan State University.
Douglas N. Harris is professor and chair of the Department of Economics and the Schlieder Foundation Chair in Public Education at Tulane University.
Ayesha K. Hashim is assistant professor of policy, leadership, and school improvement at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Education.