Local Charter School Policy Implementation: Do Policy Networks Matter?

Abstract

This article draws on research focusing on implementation of local charter school policy in the United States. Since Colorado passed charter school law in 1993, charter school policy has spread very fast and many charter schools have been operating across Colorado. However, there is the variation in the implementation of each school districts state charter school policy. Some school districts implement the states charter school law very actively through providing their students with charter school services while other school districts do not. The primary research question of the study is to examine why the uneven implementation of charter school policy emerges among Colorados school districts. The statistical results reveal that the policy network factor is the most persuasive evidence in answering the research question.