Beyond a Legislative Agenda: Education Policy Approaches of the Clinton Administration

Abstract

Federal education policy is often described in the relatively narrow terms of education program legislation and regulations. The heart of the article is a set of case studies that illustrates and explains the U.S. Department of Education 's increasing reliance on a variety of approaches, in addition to legislation, to promote its education reform strategies. The case studies also demonstrate the department's trajectory toward a new policy-making model-one that combines a relatively small piece of legislation with a major public campaign significant both in its intended scope and level of involvement across all sectors. These case studies reveal a critical, albeit far less known, federal presence in education policy that may prove essential to forging greater common ground in education in the future.