Teaching About Schooling: Integrating Education Politics into Political Science Curricula

Education is a vital tenet of a democratic society, equipping citizens with the skills necessary to self-govern. Individuals also experience K12 education policy consistently throughout their lives, as a student, a parent, a taxpayer, and/or a community member. However, few political science programs offer courses that focus on education.e argue for the inclusion of education politics in political science education by highlighting the importance for students, the discipline, and democratic ideals. Though education, a crucial public good, has always been a political institution, a systematic review of the top-100 political science programs reveals that political science curricula often overlook education. Only 1 out of every 4 programs has an education-focused political science course. Our paper additionally provides a framework for political science educators to integrate education politics into their curricula, illustrating the connections between education politics and key political science concepts.