Policy Studies for Educational Leaders: An Introduction, 4th edition

Students get a comprehensive look at all aspects of educational policy—theory, analysis, development, and implementation. They also see the reasons for change in educational policy, ways to track its evolution, and techniques for influencing its ultimatedestination.

The issues are all put into perspective for readers through an enlightening look at the history of educational policy.

The major concepts are reinforced for students through News Stories for Analysis and Case Studies sections that address current issues such as charter schools, bilingual education, high-stakes testing, and the implementation of the No Child Left Behind act.

Readers get understandable, up-to-date information presented through numerous current examples of educational policy issues and problems.

The concepts are made exceptionally clear through focus questions at the beginning of each chapter and instructional activities and suggestions for further reading at the ends of chapters.

The Fourth Edition of this highly authoritative, widely-popular text features all new “News Stories for Analysis” sections, new information on the economy and demographic information based on the 2010 census, a chart that links parts of the book and the new ISLCC standards, a section on distributive leadership and power, a section on the Tea Party Movement, an up-dated discussion of the factions within the Democratic party, many opportunities to use the Internet to further explore the concepts, new figures and tables, and a glossary of important terms.

• Opportunities for pertinent classroom discussions or writing assignments about current issues in the all new “News Stories for Analysis” sections throughout the book help to bring the concepts to life for students.
• Students are lead to a better understanding of the policy issues facing schools today through new information on the economy, including the Great Recession, as well as demographic information based on the 2010 census. (Chapter 5)
• To help students see how their course relates to what is expected of them professionally, the links between various parts of the book and new ISLCC standards are made clear on a chart included on the inside front cover.
• Students get additional current, immediately useful knowledge they can use as they think about various matters and act on them. Included is a section on distributive leadership and power, a section on the Tea Party Movement, and an up-dated discussion of the factions within the Democratic party.
• Students get a chance to use the Internet to track educational policy through the book’s numerous Internet assignments at the end of most chapters. In addition, two appendices of URLs offer students and teachers a ready-made repertoire of Internet resources to use for in-class and homework assignments, as well as individual self-study projects.
• Important points are made particularly clear through a variety of illustrative figures and tables throughout the book.
• Special terminology is highlighted in a glossary of important terms at the end of the book.