Partisanship, Race, Markets, and Public Health: The Politics of Pandemic School Operations for Reopening and Beyond. EdWorkingPaper No. 23-837

Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. Brown University Box 1985, Providence, RI 02912. Tel: 401-863-7990; Fax: 401-863-1290; e-mail: AISR_Info@brown.edu; Web site: http://www.annenberginstitute.org

N

51

Institute of Education Sciences (ED)

R305S210009
R305B200005

COVID-19; Pandemics; School Closing; School Districts; Politics of Education; Political Affiliation; Racial Composition; School Administration; Public Schools; Private Schools; In Person Learning; Educational Policy; Public Health; Decision Making; Political Influences; Institutional Characteristics; Administrator Role; Administrator Attitudes; Community Characteristics

Partisanship influenced learning modality after the pandemic's onset, but it is unknown whether partisanship predicted other aspects of educational operations. We study the role of partisanship, race, markets, and public health in predicting a range of operations--from modality to family engagement to social-emotional support to teacher PD--throughout 2020-21 in the context of Virginia. Districts' partisan makeup and racial composition were similarly predictive of in-person offerings throughout 2020-21 but partisanship was less predictive over time. District characteristics explained limited variation in other aspects of operations, though districts with larger private school sectors provided more supports. Results emphasize the role of partisanship, race, and markets in reopening but also suggest school operational decisions were less politicized than choice of modality.

As Provided

Yes

2024

ED639189