The Malfunction of US Education Policy: Elite Misinformation, Disinformation, and Selfishness

The Malfunction of US Education Policy: Elite Misinformation, Disinformation, and Selfishness has led to biased and inefficient information dissemination, degrading US education research and policy since 2001. Billions of federal government and wealthy foundations have transformed once-independent national education organizations into "cargo cult" dependents and promoters of the new order, while ignoring a century of experimental scholarship in psychology and program evaluation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 196 pages
Publication date: 12 April 2023
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

The malfunctioning of US education policy has been a persistent issue since 2001, marked by a series of unfortunate disruptions. These disruptions include the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, which imposed an idiosyncratic and ineffectual testing program, the "big bang" reorganization of the US education testing industry, which transformed it from a stable oligopoly to a commercially competitive free-for-all, and the Common Core standards, which mandated homogenous lower content standards onto the NCLB testing structure. These developments have led to the degradation of US education research and policy, as billions of federal government and wealthy foundations have transformed many once-independent national education organizations into "cargo cult" dependents and promoters of the new order.

The research and policy brain trust responsible for this malfunctioning consisted of an alliance of convenience among two "citation cartels" of establishment and reform scholars and politicos, as well as an astonishingly cooperative and un-skeptical group of journalists. This alliance succeeded in focusing attention on their work, while diverting attention away from a much larger universe of others' work, which included a century's worth of mostly experimental scholarship in the fields of psychology and program evaluation.

The consequences of this malfunctioning are far-reaching. It has led to a lack of diversity in education research and policy, as established scholars and policymakers have dominated the discourse, while experimental scholarship has been ignored or marginalized. This has resulted in a narrow understanding of education issues and a lack of innovative solutions to the challenges facing the US education system.

Furthermore, the malfunctioning of US education policy has had negative impacts on students and educators. Students have been subjected to standardized testing that does not accurately measure their knowledge and skills, leading to a misdiagnosis of their abilities and a lack of appropriate educational interventions. Educators have been pressured to teach to the test, rather than to focus on developing students' critical thinking and creativity skills, which are essential for success in the 21st century.

To address these issues, it is important to reform US education policy. This should include a shift towards a more diverse and inclusive approach to education research and policy, which recognizes the value of experimental scholarship and the contributions of diverse perspectives. It should also involve a commitment to investing in education, both at the federal and state levels, to ensure that all students have access to high-quality education and that educators are supported in their efforts to provide innovative and effective teaching practices.

In conclusion, the malfunctioning of US education policy has been a persistent issue since 2001, marked by a series of unfortunate disruptions. These disruptions have led to the degradation of US education research and policy, as well as negative impacts on students and educators. To address these issues, it is important to reform US education policy and shift towards a more diverse and inclusive approach to education research and policy. This should include a commitment to investing in education and supporting educators in their efforts to provide innovative and effective teaching practices.

Weight: 299g
Dimension: 228 x 151 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781475869941