Uneasy Allies: The Evolving Relationship of School and State

The American school originated as an extension of fundamental social units: families, churches, and communities. Repeated waves of reform succeeded in fully institutionalizing public schooling, and schools came to operate under a formal system of public authority. Founded as an institution independent from state and federal control, the school has been transformed into an institution wedded to multiple layers of government—local, state, and federal. This essay explores the historical evolution of the school-state relationship, how educational reform movements of the past 30 years may undermine the alliance of school and state, and the challenges this development poses for analysts of education policy.