Theoretical approaches in the comparative study of education reform in Latin America

GOROSTIAGA, JORGE M.

San Antonio

Congreso; AERA Annual Meeting; 2017

American Education Research Association

This symposium brings scholars from Brazil,Argentina, Mexico and USA with the aim of discussing how public policies havebeen analysed in the Americas over last 25 years. In the wave ofdemocratization and modernization, education policies have been modifiedsubstantially in order to ensure more opportunities for the underdog. However,large-scale evaluations and some research evidence have suggested that learningand social gaps between rich and poor remain. This calls to question the way inwhich some democratic-elected governments and societies work together in orderto address social problems. Have political and ideological pluralism beenuseful to develop more effective and equitable policies? Is it true that we aremoving from a traditional government to governance? Has democracy in theAmericas been useful for developing renovated public policies frameworks? Whatlessons can be drawn from the political and economic changes in terms ofanalytical perspectives and educational development? By discussing theoretical approachesand practical applications in the field of education policy, this symposiumwill try to address such questions.