Politics and Policy 

About: Politics and Policy is an academic journal published by Wiley-Blackwell. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Politics & Political science. It has an ISSN identifier of 1555-5623. Over the lifetime, 870 publications have been published receiving 8429 citations. The journal is also known as: Politics & Policy.

Stopping the Revolving Door: Increasing Teacher Retention

Abstract: Schools around the nation are facing an alarming phenomenon: beginning teachers are leaving schools at a startling rate. Thirty-three percent of teachers leave their schools in the first three years, 46 percent after five years. These high attrition rates result in inexperienced teachers, high economic costs as teachers must be continually hired and trained, and a lack of continuity that makes institutional development and planning difficult. There is a plethora of causes for teacher attrition, although most involve nonsalary-related dissatisfaction, such as excessive workloads and high-stakes testing, disruptive student behavior, poor leadership and administration within schools, and views of teaching as a temporary profession. Likewise, the most successful remedies to increase teacher retention are not salary-based. Several studies have found that moderate salary increases are only marginally effective; raises of 20 percent would be needed to make a significant impact. Rather, improving teachers' work environment and professional development are more cost effective and influential in convincing teachers to remain. An induction and mentoring program in California, for example, reduced teacher attrition by 26 percent in just two years. We conclude, therefore, that well-operated induction and mentoring programs are the best method for increasing teacher retention.

Defining Political Will

Abstract: Although frequently invoked as a rhetorical tool in political discussions, “political will” remains ambiguous as a concept. Acknowledging the centrality of political will to policy outcomes, the authors propose a pragmatic and systematic approach to definition. This approach facilitates analysis by identifying particular shortcomings in political will. This identification in turn permits the application of appropriate theoretical frameworks from various disciplines and the effective construction and use of ameliorative measures. The authors also address fundamental issues like the specification of contexts. The analytical approach includes a conceptual definition dissected into essential components, along with corresponding means of operationalization and targets for assessment. Among the major definitional components are requirements that a sufficient set of decision makers intends to support a particular initiative and that such support is committed. The latter condition is difficult to ascertain, but various signals, influences, and constraints on action are observable. Aunque frecuentemente invocado como una herramienta retorica en las discusiones politicas, “la voluntad politica” se mantiene como unconcepto ambiguo. Reconociendo la importancia de la voluntad politica en los resultados politicos, los autores proponen una aproximacion pragmatica y sistematica para su definicion. Esta aproximacion facilita el analisis al identificar faltas particulares en el concepto de voluntad politica. Dicha identificacion permite a su vez la aplicacion del marco teorico apropiado de varias disciplinas y la construccion efectiva y utilizacion de medidas de mejoramiento. Los autores abordan tambien topicos fundamentales como la importancia del contexto. La aproximacion analitica incluye una definicion conceptual diseccionada en componentes esenciales, junto con medios correspondientes de operacionalizacion y los objetivos a evaluar. Entre los componentes mas importantes de la definicion estan los requerimientos que una serie de hacedores de politicas intente apoyar una iniciativa particular y que dicho apoyo sea real. La ultima condicion es dificil de determinar, pero varias senales, influencias, y limitaciones son observables.

Reclaiming Legitimacy in China

Abstract: Portland State University The contemporary politics of China reflect an ongoing effort by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to reclaim the right to rule in light of the consequences of economic development, international pressures, and historical change China’s regime stands out within the Asian region for its success in the effort of adapting to change and ensuring its continuity Focusing on changes in China’s elite discourse during the reform period and particularly during the last decade, the aim of this article is to elaborate the relative importance of various sources of legitimacy as they are shifting over time, as well as inherent dilemmas and limitations There is evidence of an agile, responsive, and creative party effort to relegitimate the postrevolutionary regime through economic performance, nationalism, ideology, culture, governance, and democracy At the same time, the study finds a clear shift in emphasis from an earlier economic-nationalistic approach to a more ideologicalinstitutional approach

Changing Public Opinion on Same-Sex Marriage: The Case of California

Abstract: Though public opposition to same-sex marriage seems reasonably stable nationally, support in California has grown substantially in the past two decades Using data from six Field Polls of Californians since 1985, we explore the roots of that growth in individual attitude change and population changes Cohort replacement can explain half the growth Although all groups of Californians say that they have become more accepting of homosexual relations since they turned 18, the pattern is strongest for liberals, Democrats, and the less religious These groups have also become much more supportive of same-sex marriage, while conservatives, Republicans, Protestants, and African-Americans appear at least as opposed today as they were two decades ago