Policy and Decision Agendas: A Framework for Understanding Policy Processes, Lecture notes of Literature

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Agendas, Alternatives and Public

Policies

John Kingdon

Amber Lovell EDUC 875, 2010

General Concepts

Policy Agenda, Decision Agenda and Alternatives

Subjects that get attention

• Administration -Pressing need/crisis -Set up at the beginning of a term

Subjects that are up for active decision

• Renewal of ESEA

Actions or solutions to the status quo

• Connected to the agenda and “problems” but not necessarily derived from them

Old Models Do Not Tell the Whole Story

Origins Theory

Tracing policy history can help you understand it

Problems:

• Too simplistic
• climate
• multiple causation

Rational Decision Making

Policy happens in a logical, chronological order

Problems

• Limitations of time and resources
• Irrational behavior

Incrementalism

Policies grow over time

Problems

• Does not explain when and idea “takes off”
• can be used to analyze alternatives but not agendas

Who/What When/How POLICY

Problem

Search for solution/explore options

Enact Policy

Idea

Enactment/

Adjustment

Expansion

Each of the three streams is INDEPENDENT -Shaped by its own rules -Greatest change occurs when 2+streams meet

STREAMS THEORY

Problem Definition and Recognition : There is a difference between a condition and a problem - the former becomes the later through values, comparisons and categories

Problems need attention

1. indicators
2. crisis
3. focusing event or symbol
4. feedback

Importance of interpretation and people

Why do problems fade : Solutions, Negative Feedback, Politically Dangerous, Budget

Policy-Darwinism Emerging Ideas and Recombination Gradual Encroachment of and idea from diverse sources “Softening-up” the ground

1. Trial balloons
2. Education
3. Advocacy

Survival of the fittest:

1. Feasibility
2. Value Acceptability
3. Anticipation
4. Bandwagon and Tipping

Politics Stream: Influencing the Agenda Note: existing programs can cause conflict of interest Major factors:

1. New Administration and turnover
2. National Mood
3. Questions of Jurisdiction
4. Consensus building; logrolling, bargaining, strange bedfellows

Much like streams in nature, the combination of streams creates

powerful currents of change……or what Kingdon refers to as a……

Not specific, many alternatives have a chance

Short in Duration: Often lead to political flexibility

Coupling

1. problem – solution (adapting)
2. problem – politically acceptable solution

Predictable vs Unpredictable Windows

Spillovers and adjacent areas

POLICY WINDOW

The Problem Stream:

Indicators over Crisis

• Continued mediocre rankings in international

indicators: TIMMS, NEAP

• Economic downturn/changing

economic realities

• Belief that an

monopolistic education

system maintains

mediocrity

The Policy Stream

Softening Up the Ground

ESEA Blueprint trial balloon

Alliance for School Choice & Foundation for Educational Choice

Advocates on both sides of the aisle

Reconfiguration

School choice already exists in a limited capacity through charter schools and local voucher programs such as the Opportunity Scholarships in DC; no longer a huge departure from the status quo

ESEA

Reauthorization

The Coming Window: Who Will be the Entrepreneur?

ESEA Trial Balloon

Voucher Programs and Charter Schools

Advocacy Groups

2010 elections Tea Party

unhappy population

Economy

Failing Schools

Monopolistic System

Fin, Thank you