Elections+and+Schools

Title: Elections and Schools  Submitted by: Ann Allen //Alternate Names//: Representation, Responsiveness, Democratic Governance

The study of elections in political science provides a framework for understanding how the structure of school elections likely affects the nature of representation and voice in school decision-making. Election theory is particularly relevant to public institutions like public schools where school boards are elected by the community. Election theory has been used to consider how the structure of elections, such as whether elections are ward-based or city-based or whether school elections are conducted with general elections or as special elections, affects who votes and whose voices are represented in school decisions. Election theory has also been used to examine issues of politics and power in school decisions, and how these politics affect issues of equity in schools. Since school boards are the policy making entities at the local level, how these boards are elected is a question significant to democratic governance, representation, voice, equity, and power in school decision-making.

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 * References: **

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 * References applying the framework: **

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