ABSTRACT

The Business of Education—a comprehensive view of how education policy is made in the US and, in some cases, globally—analyzes and critiques the influence of educational policy networks in a wide range of contexts and from a variety of perspectives, including testing, college preparation, juvenile detention centers, special education, the arts, teacher evaluation systems, education of undocumented immigrants, college faculty preparation, and financial aid. A network chart in most chapters illustrates how the major political actors, mainly private philanthropic foundations, for-profit companies, government officials, and politicians involved in the network, are linked. Joel Spring, internationally renowned scholar and analyst of educational policy, situates and frames the network studies in an introduction discussing general theories of education policy networks.

chapter 2|16 pages

Admitting Privilege

chapter 3|13 pages

Avid about College

A Look into AVID’s Governing Structure

chapter 4|13 pages

A Not So Individualized Education Plan

Examining NYC DOE Contract with Maximus that Brought Us SESIS

chapter 5|11 pages

Turning Against (Public) Arts Education

An Arts Perspective of the Business of Education

chapter 6|14 pages

Policy Networks and Political Decisions Influencing the Dream Act

The Power of the Dreamers

chapter 8|13 pages

Exploring Federal Financial Aid Networks

Who Cares and Why?

chapter 9|19 pages

A Political Economy of Incarceration

Race, Schooling, and the Criminal Justice System

chapter 10|18 pages

A Shared Path to Success

The Promise and Challenge of Special Education in New York City