Governance in idea-driven schools
What happens when civil society, rather than the state or market, takes the lead in running schools? This project explores how idea-driven schools are governed in Sweden and the United States and how civil society organizations fit into broader systems of educational accountability.
When civil society runs schools
In both Sweden and Wisconsin in the United States, civil society organizations - such as nonprofits, cooperatives, and foundations - are involved in running schools. Yet their role within the broader governance system is not always clear.
This project investigates how these organizations are governed and how they fit into the wider chain of accountability, from taxpayers and lawmakers to schools, classrooms, and students.
Comparing different models of governance
By comparing governance models in Sweden and Wisconsin, the project examines the particular challenges and opportunities that arise when civil society actors take on a greater role in education.
The comparative perspective can provide a deeper understanding of how different institutional arrangements shape accountability and governance when education is provided by organizations that are neither conventional public-sector bodies nor commercial actors.