The TL/DR...

  • The implementation of education policy shapes everyday school decisions on issues that include the budget, instructional staffing, student learning needs, curriculum development, student assessments, teacher qualifications, and many other aspects of school operations.
  • Education policy, informed by data and evidence-based research, can create more educational opportunities and academic support for students by focusing attention on the need for a more equitable allocation of funding to under-resourced schools.
  • Lasting positive changes that bring about improved student outcomes and increased access to education can be achieved on a larger scale through the implementation of education policy reforms at the local, state, or national levels.

For decades, the actions taken by a local school board in adopting a calendar for any given school year might have seemed pretty routine. Typically, school year calendars were structured to include the minimum amount of instructional time required by state law (e.g., Virginia mandates 180 instructional days or 990 instructional hours), a long summer break, shorter winter and spring breaks, and federal holidays that fall while school is in session. Today, constructing a school year calendar is more complex. Many school calendars now include cultural and religious observances that reflect the growing diversity of the student population found in school districts across the country. In addition, flexibility must be incorporated into school calendars so that educators are given time to engage in professional development and training activities. School boards must also balance competing priorities when it comes to scheduling the first day of school. Many school districts start school sometime in mid to late August, but in other districts students do not return to school until after Labor Day. Supporters of an earlier start date say this helps to minimize any learning loss that may occur over the summer and gives students more time to prepare for the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams given toward the end of the school year. Opponents of starting school earlier say this can hurt local tourism-related businesses that rely on student workers during the peak summer vacation season.

The example described above illustrates the complicated decisions that school boards and school administrators face every day. These decisions address a wide range of issues that include school budgets, instructional staffing, student learning needs, curriculum development, student assessments, teacher qualifications, and anything else that affects school operations and student success. Whether decision-makers can develop an action plan that improves access to quality education will depend in large part on them having a firm grasp of the education policy implications related to the issue at hand—policy implications that are unique and specific to the school community. Education policy encompasses the rules, laws, principles, processes, and decisions that determine how a school operates. Effective education policy is grounded in evidence-based research that informs real-world practice leading to improved student outcomes. David Houston, assistant professor in the Education Policy Program within the College of Education and Human Development at George Mason University, recently shared his perspective on how this field of study can shape what students experience in schools and classrooms every day.

Education policy, driven by evidence supported research, can facilitate equal access to educational opportunities for all students.

The development and implementation of policy that is focused on providing all students with equal access to educational and enrichment opportunities is one that will increase the likelihood of successful student outcomes. Education policy, driven by data and evidence-based research, can help level the playing field by highlighting the need for more equitable allocation of funding to under-resourced schools in marginalized communities. Increased funding of these schools will allow school administrators to hire more teachers and provide students with educational resources and support services that will allow them to reach their full potential.

Reforms in education at the local, state, or national levels can result in positive change on a larger scale benefiting generations of students for years to come.

Some individuals are committed to making a positive impact on education by working directly with students in the classroom. But that is not the only way to improve student outcomes and increase access to education. Positive changes in education can be achieved on a larger scale through the implementation of policy reforms at the local, state, or national levels. These reforms can address major issues in education such as how to improve student performance on state-mandated standardized testing, developing strategies to enhance teacher recruitment and retention in K-12 public schools, or establishing safeguards to ensure that innovative and rapidly evolving technologies like artificial intelligence are used responsibly and ethically in schools. Issues like these can affect entire communities and whole generations of students for years to come.

Education policy can play an important role in influencing major education legislation such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

At the core of every major legislative statute that has had a meaningful impact on student learning or provided increased access to education is a set of well-crafted education policy initiatives. An example is the landmark Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Prior to enactment of this legislation in 1975, many children with disabilities were denied access to public education. IDEA ended this exclusionary practice by legislating the right for children with disabilities to receive a free public education. In the more than fifty years since it became law, IDEA has been amended to emphasize the importance of inclusion, accountability, outcomes, and evidence-based practices in providing special education services and accommodations that meet the unique needs of children with disabilities. Today, education policy professionals are working to ensure that IDEA remains fully funded so that children and students with disabilities continue to receive the educational services, resources, and interventions that support their growth and success.


To learn more about degree offerings in the Education Policy Program at George Mason University, please visit the program website.