School Reform Efforts: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow? Educator Perspectives on the Rapid Life Cycle of School Reforms

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Doss, Christopher Joseph

Contributor:

Akinniranye, Goke

Language:

English

Other Title:

School Reform Efforts

Place of Publication:

Santa Monica, Calif. RAND Corporation 2020

Summary:

School reform has become an umbrella term for initiatives and programs that aim to improve school functioning and student outcomes. Many researchers and educators have noted the emergence of a "school reform churn." New initiatives and programs are adopted, only to be dropped when the next popular reform emerges. Although experimenting with new approaches is important, continuity and stability are needed for the healthy functioning of a school. This American Educator Panels Data Note highlights discrepancies in principals' and teachers' perceptions of the continuity of school reforms in their schools. Data from AEP reveal that teachers are much more likely to perceive school reform churn than principals. These differences in perceptions exist across schools of different demographic composition and across educators of different experience levels. Though the underlying reasons for the disparity can be varied, this disconnect in perceptions can have implications for the success of reforms.