Essay Question 3 - Discuss what is involved in the policy process and how policy development today is different from policy development in the past?

Question 1

Introduction to Essay Question 3 - Discuss what is involved in the policy process and how policy development today is different from policy development in the past?

Answer 1

• “The simplest definition of policy was stated by Dye, when she said that policy is “whatever governments choose to do, or not to do” (1992, p. 2). A policy is a reflection of decision made by those with authority. It is normative and is designed to steer the actions and behaviours of the people. ‘Policy is about change’ (Weimer and Vining, 2004), and it is through policy that governments seek to reform educational systems.
• Policies are either material or symbolic. Material policies are strongly committed to implementation. They are accompanied by funding, and sometimes effective evaluation mechanisms to ensure the achievement of their goals. “Strongly committed to implementation. They are accompanied by funding, and sometimes effective evaluation mechanisms to ensure the achievement of their goals.” (Dianne Cullen, 2014 [lecture])
• Symbolic policies are often political responses to pressures for policy. The usually carry little or no commitment to actual implementation and usually do not have substantial funding attached. “Often political responses to pressures for policy. The usually carry little or no commitment to actual implementation and usually do not have substantial funding attached.” (Dianne Cullen, 2014 [lecture])

Question 2

Explain models of policy development – Rational model (policy as linear)

Answer 2

• Government – Minister – Policy Producer – Policy Implementers

Question 3

What is Policy as process?

Answer 3

• Government – Minister/school agency – Policy Producer – Policy Implementers in a circle then starts again

Question 4

How are policies today different from those of the past?

Answer 4

• “Public policies were once exclusively developed within a national setting, but now are also located within a global ‘system’.” (Dianne Cullen, 2014 [lecture])
• “While national governments continue to have the ultimate authority to develop their own policies, the nature of this authority is no longer the same, affected significantly by imperatives of the global economy, shifts in global political relations and changing patterns of global communication ….” (Dianne Cullen, 2014 [lecture])
• “These shifts have inevitably affected education policy.” (Dianne Cullen, 2014 [lecture])