Political Cultures in Education at the State and Local Level: Views from Three States

The role of the state as a key actor in educational policy has increased over the past few decades (Clune, 1987; Reeves, 1990; Timar & Kirp, 1988). States vary greatly in the types of policies enacted, but most reports on differences among states are largely descriptive, such as the annual Education Week reviews of state educational reform and progress (Education Week, 2006). Fewer analyses look in more detail at the effects of state policy and accountability systems on student achievement (Carnoy & Loeb, 2002). Even less attention has been paid to how state political cultures affect the manner in which state educational accountability policies are enacted and the assumptions upon which they are based.