From policy networks to policy preferences: Organizational networks in the opt-out movement
Organizational networks shape education policy by influencing power holders and elites, but do they have similar effects on grassroots activists? We use data from the National Survey on Opting Out (2016 and 2018; n = 2,909) to examine the role of organizational networks in mobilizing activists in th...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Arizona State University
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Education Policy Analysis Archives |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://epaa.asu.edu/ojs/article/view/4835 |
| _version_ | 1819275825281761280 |
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| author | Nancy Green Saraisky Oren Pizmony-Levy |
| author_facet | Nancy Green Saraisky Oren Pizmony-Levy |
| author_sort | Nancy Green Saraisky |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Organizational networks shape education policy by influencing power holders and elites, but do they have similar effects on grassroots activists? We use data from the National Survey on Opting Out (2016 and 2018; n = 2,909) to examine the role of organizational networks in mobilizing activists in the opt-out movement (a movement in which parents and caregivers refuse to have their children sit for standardized tests). Despite characterizations of the opt-out movement as a bunch of “soccer moms” disappointed with their children’s test scores, our findings show that opt-out is in fact a structured movement reliant on social movement organizations (SMOs) with agendas that go beyond standardized tests. Further, we demonstrate a small but significant correlation between contact with SMOs and individual policy preferences. These patterns suggest that organizational networks may inform education policy by creating a social space for activists to learn about different policy ideas in education. We discuss implications for research and practice. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T23:30:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a840eb52c91f405d92da6f2266556626 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1068-2341 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T23:30:29Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | Arizona State University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Education Policy Analysis Archives |
| spelling | doaj.art-a840eb52c91f405d92da6f22665566262022-12-21T17:26:03ZengArizona State UniversityEducation Policy Analysis Archives1068-23412020-08-0128010.14507/epaa.28.48352147From policy networks to policy preferences: Organizational networks in the opt-out movementNancy Green Saraisky0Oren Pizmony-Levy1Teachers College, Columbia UniversityTeachers College, Columbia UniversityOrganizational networks shape education policy by influencing power holders and elites, but do they have similar effects on grassroots activists? We use data from the National Survey on Opting Out (2016 and 2018; n = 2,909) to examine the role of organizational networks in mobilizing activists in the opt-out movement (a movement in which parents and caregivers refuse to have their children sit for standardized tests). Despite characterizations of the opt-out movement as a bunch of “soccer moms” disappointed with their children’s test scores, our findings show that opt-out is in fact a structured movement reliant on social movement organizations (SMOs) with agendas that go beyond standardized tests. Further, we demonstrate a small but significant correlation between contact with SMOs and individual policy preferences. These patterns suggest that organizational networks may inform education policy by creating a social space for activists to learn about different policy ideas in education. We discuss implications for research and practice.https://epaa.asu.edu/ojs/article/view/4835social movementsorganizationseducation policyaccountabilitypolicy networksstandardized testsopt-out movement |
| spellingShingle | Nancy Green Saraisky Oren Pizmony-Levy From policy networks to policy preferences: Organizational networks in the opt-out movement Education Policy Analysis Archives social movements organizations education policy accountability policy networks standardized tests opt-out movement |
| title | From policy networks to policy preferences: Organizational networks in the opt-out movement |
| title_full | From policy networks to policy preferences: Organizational networks in the opt-out movement |
| title_fullStr | From policy networks to policy preferences: Organizational networks in the opt-out movement |
| title_full_unstemmed | From policy networks to policy preferences: Organizational networks in the opt-out movement |
| title_short | From policy networks to policy preferences: Organizational networks in the opt-out movement |
| title_sort | from policy networks to policy preferences organizational networks in the opt out movement |
| topic | social movements organizations education policy accountability policy networks standardized tests opt-out movement |
| url | https://epaa.asu.edu/ojs/article/view/4835 |
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