Incentives, capacity, and implementation: Evidence from Massachusetts education reform

• 成果类型: Article; Proceedings Paper
• 署名作者: McDermott, KA
• 署名单位: University of Massachusetts System; University of Massachusetts Amherst
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION RESEARCH AND THEORY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1053-1858
• DOI: 10.1093/jopart/mui024
• 发表日期: 2006
• 页码: 45-65
• 关键词: policy implementation

摘要

Since the 1980s, most of the states and the U.S. federal government have enacted policies based upon the theory of standards-based education reform. These policies attempt to use incentives to overcome the difficulty of implementing policy in a loosely coupled system. This article presents a case study of the implementation of standards-based reform in Massachusetts. The case study shows how poorly thought-out incentive structures, lack of capacity, and lack of trust impeded implementation of the reforms. The Massachusetts experience has implications for the education reform movement nationwide, because Massachusetts has been a leader in the movement. Analysis of the Massachusetts case also contributes to the literature on how context affects policy implementation.