How State Education Leaders Supported Students’ Access to Education Amidst the Covid-19 Crisis

Lessons for Policy

Bibliographic Data

ID21581830
AuthorsHayley Weddle (0000-0001-7317-6398, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA, corresponding author), Ayesha K Hashim (0000-0001-8836-8771, Northwest Evaluation Association), Ogechi N Irondi (University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA)
Year2025
Volume39
Issue2
Pages357-389
Publication date2025-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEducational Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0895-9048 • E-ISSN: 1552-3896
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/08959048231220374
OpenAlexW4391222121
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited13

While recent research provides insights into how district and school leaders responded to the extraordinary disruptions created by the COVID-19 pandemic, less is known about the role of influential state-level education leaders during the crisis. In this paper, we draw on interviews with state leaders to examine their efforts to support students’ access to education during the pandemic. Findings reveal how state leaders engaged in local-level capacity building, advocacy, and collaboration to promote continuity of education. However, their work was complicated by limited capacity at the state level, political tensions, local control, and pervasive stress over time. The paper concludes with implications for policymakers to better prepare for future crises

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak · Crisis management · Economic growth · Economics · Education policy · Higher education · Political science · Public relations · Sociology · Disaster Management and Resilience · Medicine · Public Administration

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