Blog #3- What "Counts" as Educational Policy? by Jean Anyon

 What "Counts" as Educational Policy? Notes toward a New Paradigm by Jean Anyon

Reflection: 

After reading What "Counts" as Educational Policy? Notes toward a New Paradigm by Jean Anyon, I was challenged by the way I normally think about education and what shapes student success. Before encountering her article, I assumed that educational policy mostly referred to decisions about standardized testing, curriculum, teacher training, or school funding. These are the things that get talked about most often in debates about school improvement. Anyon, however, pushes us to recognize that schools cannot be separated from the broader social and economic realities that students live in. She argues that educational policy should also include areas like housing, wages, healthcare, transportation, and community investment. This perspective immediately struck me as both logical and powerful, because it highlights how schools often reflect inequalities that already exist outside of them.

As I reflected on her ideas, I thought about my own experiences and the schools I’ve seen with this issue firsthand. For example, at the school I work at, I’ve noticed that some students struggle not because they lack motivation or because their teachers are ineffective, but because their families are facing serious challenges such as job instability, housing insecurity, or lack of healthcare. Even the best teachers can’t fully overcome those obstacles if students are coming to class hungry, exhausted, or stressed about their home life. Anyon’s main idea made me realize that school reform on its own, no matter how well-intentioned, can only go so far if we don’t also address these broader social inequalities.

What I found most meaningful was her call to broaden the definition of educational policy. Instead of only focusing on schools in isolation, she suggests we think about policy in a more holistic way. I agree with her argument because if we want real and lasting change, we need to connect education to the larger fight against poverty and inequality. Anyon's article made me rethink how interconnected education and society really are. It also left me with questions about how educators, communities, and policymakers can collaborate to push for these broader changes. Lastly, Anyon's article helped me see education not just as a school issue, but as a social justice issue that demands collective solutions.

Reflection/Questions/Comments To Share:

Anyon’s article made me rethink what I consider to be “educational policy.” I used to think it only meant things like tests, curriculum, or school budgets, but Anyon argues that issues like housing, wages, healthcare, and transportation also directly shape students’ ability to succeed in school. This resonated with me because I’ve seen how students often struggle due to challenges at home or in their communities, not just because of what happens inside the classroom. Her argument showed me that schools can’t close achievement gaps on their own; real change has to include broader social and economic reforms. It left me wondering how teachers and communities can push policymakers to look beyond narrow school reforms and work toward solutions that address inequality more holistically.