ELP 6430 - The Politics of Education

This course examines political issues that define the public education in the context of social values and concerns such as quality, democracy and equity. The course will introduce concepts, theories and perspectives in educational politics for use in educational leadership practice. The course is grounded in social justice and equity principles and aligned with the ELP department's mission to develop school leadership that promotes student achievement, narrows the achievement gap, and creates democratic and equitable school communities. With a focus on the principalship, special attention is given to the character and dynamics of the school change and policy-making process as it relates to the development and enactment of education policy, school-community relations, and the management of conflicting interests. Based on the goal of developing strong leadership skills and dispositions, this course is structured to explore policy and politics from a systems perspective, including the individual, classroom, school, district, state, and federal levels.