Educational Policymakers

The term educational policymakers refers to those entities, both formal and informal, that create and implement policy decisions that impact schools and universities. Policies, in the context of education, may take the form of legislation, law, and policy. The policy process typically occurs in four phases: issue definition, agenda setting and proposal development, support mobilization, and decision enactment and implementation. Throughout this process, various policy actors become involved.

In education, policies are made at all three levels of government: local, state, and federal. Typically, members of the executive branch will be more involved in the beginning stages of the process, while the legislative branch becomes involved during the latter stages. Historically, schools were locally controlled. Those in positions of influence to the schools were the entities ...