Educational Policy Analysis Paper
Throughout this course, you will be exploring various educational policies that have played a role in educational reform. For your Final Paper, you will be researching a current educational policy (local, state, or national), analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the policy, and identifying specific changes that need to take place. In this assignment, you will need to demonstrate that you can analyze a current policy and use problem-solving strategies for conflict resolution to improve the current policy.
Writing the Final Paper
Assignment Guidelines:
Your paper needs to be eight to ten pages long (not including your title or reference page) and formatted according to APA guidelines.
Your paper needs to include a minimum of six references in addition to your textbook. Make sure at least one of your references is from a scholarly journal found in the Ashford University Library.
Your paper needs to include the following sections:
Introduction
Summary of Current Educational Policy
Critique of Current Educational Policy
Policy Recommendations
Analysis of Recommendations
Political Analysis
Governmental Role
Conclusion
Here is a summary of what needs to be in each section of your paper:
Introduction
The introduction section will include the current educational policy that you have chosen to analyze. Make sure you have a clear thesis for your paper.
Summary of Current Educational Policy
Within this section you will need to provide a clear summary of the educational policy. Make sure you discuss the history of the policy, how it came into existence, the purpose of the policy, goal(s) of the policy, and the impact it has had on education.
Critique of Current Educational Policy
This section will include a critique of the strengths and weaknesses of the current policy. What areas are working? What areas are not working? What problems do you see with the policy? Make sure you support your position with current facts/research.
Policy Recommendations
Provided within this section are your own recommendations for improving the policy. Be specific when identifying which areas you will change, and be as detailed as possible when describing how these changes will take place. Anticipate the implementation requirements and financial implications of your proposed changes. Make sure you consider how this will prepare students for a global society.
Analysis of Recommendations
Your analysis of proposed changes will be included in the section entitled Recommendations. Explain how and why you believe these changes will lead to improved performance as a result of the policy. Make sure you also address globalization in education.
Political Analysis
This section will include a political analysis of the prospects for your proposals, and should include suggested strategies to garner support for them. Make sure you consider both liberal and conservative views.
Governmental Role
Within this section, you will evaluate the balance between federal, state, and local government and responsibility. Make sure you are clear on the role of each of the entities in your policy changes, and address the distribution of power. Justify your position for the role each entity is given.
Conclusion
The conclusion section will include your summary of the policy changes and address the influence of the proposed policy changes on education.
Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.
Description:
Total Possible Score: 25.00
Introduction, Thesis Statement, and Conclusion
Total: 1.00
Distinguished – Paper is logically organized with a well-written introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. The introduction includes the current educational policy chosen to analyze. The conclusion includes a summary of the policy changes and addresses the influence of the proposed policy changes on education.
Summarizes a Current Educational Policy
Total: 4.00
Distinguished – Clearly summarizes a current educational policy. Discusses in detail the history of the policy, how the policy came into existence, the purpose of the policy, the goal(s) of the policy, and the impact it has had on education.
Critiques a Current Educational Policy
Total: 4.00
Distinguished – Provides an in-depth critique of a current educational policy, including a review of the policy?s strengths and weaknesses, what is working and what is not working, and problems seen with the policy. Uses many supporting details.
Provides Recommendations for Improving the Educational Policy
Total: 3.50
Distinguished – Provides thorough and reasonable recommendations for improving the chosen educational policy. The recommendations include an identification of the areas that will change, with a detailed description of how the changes will take place. Thoroughly anticipates the implementation requirements and financial implications of proposed changes and considers how this will prepare students for a global society.
Analyzes Recommendations and Political Prospects
Total: 4.00
Distinguished – Provides an in-depth analysis of the proposed changes, recommendations, and political prospects for the proposals, using several supporting details. Explains how and why the changes will lead to improved performance and addresses the impact on globalization in education. Conservative and liberal views are thoroughly considered for the prospects for the proposal.
Evaluates the Balance Between Federal, State, and Local Governments and Responsibilities
Total: 4.00
Distinguished – Provides an in-depth evaluation of the balance between federal, state, and local governments and responsibilities. Clearly describes the roles of each of the entities in the policy changes and addresses the distribution of power. Justifies the position taken for the role each entity is given and uses several supporting details.
Integrative Thinking: Transfer
Total: 0.50
Distinguished – Adapts and employs, independently, skills, abilities, theories, or methodologies gained in one situation to new situations. Solves difficult problems or explores complex issues in original ways.
Creative Thinking: Solving Problems
Total: 0.50
Distinguished – Develops a logical, consistent plan to solve a problem, identifies consequences of the solution, and can clearly communicate the reason for choosing the solution.
Critical Thinking: Student?s Position
Total: 0.50
Distinguished – Specific position is inventive, considering the intricate ideas of an issue. Limits of position are recognized. Other viewpoints are synthesized within position.
Creative Thinking: Acquiring Competencies
Total: 0.50
Distinguished – Evaluates creative process and product using appropriate criteria; creates an entirely new object, solution or idea that is appropriate to the domain. Successfully adapts an appropriate exemplar to own specifications.
Written Communication: Control of Syntax and Mechanics
Total: 0.62
Distinguished – Displays meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains no errors, and is very easy to understand.
Written Communication: APA Formatting
Total: 0.62
Distinguished – Accurately uses APA formatting consistently throughout the paper, title page, and reference page.
Written Communication: Page Requirement
Total: 0.63
Distinguished – The paper meets the specific page requirement stipulated in the assignment description.
Written Communication: Source Requirement
Total: 0.63
Distinguished – Uses more than the required number of scholarly sources, providing compelling evidence to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.
Introduction, Thesis Statement, and Conclusion
Total: 1.00
Distinguished – Paper is logically organized with a well-written introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion. The introduction includes the current educational policy chosen to analyze. The conclusion includes a summary of the policy changes and addresses the influence of the proposed policy changes on education.