This course is designed to examine some of the origins, goals, and consequences, both intended and unintended, of education policy.  A social foundations construct will be used to explore the relationship between society and education to better understand the core issues that underlie the contemporary debate over education policy and, in so doing, to help find ways to better align policy and its intended goals. 

After completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of what education policy is and where in a social community, as opposed to a market economy, it has its origins.
• Describe how education policy can be variously used by different, sometimes competing, constituencies to accomplish specific goals.
• Reflect critically and pragmatically on ways to improve the process and delivery of education policy and policy decisions.
• Articulate clearly how policy decisions can be used to improve the educational experience and academic achievement of students.