Political Agendas in Public Education

Abstract

Architects of education reform have consistently been individuals and organizations with political affiliations that lacked the necessary credentials to construct effective reform that would impact academia at a national level. Dichotomous perspectives on the idealized educational direction among political parties stimulated additional complications on reform platforms, lessening the likelihood of enhanced student outcomes. These disparities resulted in misguided and inconsistent messages as promoted with affiliated relationships between political campaigns and media outlets to the American public, as well as partnerships with private businesses and the promotion of charters and privatized education, and government-sponsored academic improvement organizations. This chapter examines the Stralek study regarding the relationships between six federal education initiatives (Elementary and Secondary Education Act,