There is a quiet revolution occurring in American public education policy. The debate surrounds the issue of how best to go about educating the country's youth in the modern--or postmodern--world. Simon looks beyond the debate to focus on what public school organization tells policymakers about outcomes.

Simon argues that public schools are open systems organizations, continually reacting to a changing environment and to evolving internal organizational conditions. The structure of public schools, he shows, has not changed dramatically, but the organizational priorities have and will continue to change. As he shows, public schools are complex mechanisms that cannot be easily manipulated to produce a quick fix to perceived problems. Through detailed case studies and their varied outcomes, Simon provides scholars, students, and public policy makers in education policy and administration with valuable insights into contemporary educational debates.

The book examines contemporary immigration policy and immigrant assimilation with a focus on the adoption of sanctuary ordinances in US local governments in connection with Latino in-migration. It also investigates the adoption of anti-immigrant settlement local ordinances in many local governments with particular focus on local law enforcement positions taken on enforcement of federal immigration laws. The book investigates a wide range of county-level characteristics of 3,000+ U.S. counties (e.g., socio-economic and demographic traits, political culture, social capital, religious denominations present, etc.) to identify correlates of pro- and anti-immigrant settlement. The book also features the analysis of a national survey and three targeted surveys in pro-immigration (San Francisco), divided (Maricopa), and anti-immigration (Tulsa) counties to explore the individual-level factors associated with sentiments on immigration policy. Finally, the book presents findings from two case studies where active encouragement of Latino settlement (Twin Falls, ID) and active opposition (Hazleton, PA) characterize local reaction to Latino in-migration. The mixed methods study leads the authors to conclude that a funnel of causality concept, path dependency, pro-social attitudes, and the concepts of moral panic and moral dialogue collectively lead to great insight into the question of why some communities are open and accepting while others are exclusionary.

The book examines contemporary immigration policy and immigrant assimilation with a focus on the adoption of sanctuary ordinances in US local governments in connection with Latino in-migration. It also investigates the adoption of anti-immigrant settlement local ordinances in many local governments with particular focus on local law enforcement positions taken on enforcement of federal immigration laws. The book investigates a wide range of county-level characteristics of 3,000+ U.S. counties (e.g., socio-economic and demographic traits, political culture, social capital, religious denominations present, etc.) to identify correlates of pro- and anti-immigrant settlement. The book also features the analysis of a national survey and three targeted surveys in pro-immigration (San Francisco), divided (Maricopa), and anti-immigration (Tulsa) counties to explore the individual-level factors associated with sentiments on immigration policy. Finally, the book presents findings from two case studies where active encouragement of Latino settlement (Twin Falls, ID) and active opposition (Hazleton, PD) characterize local reaction to Latino in-migration. The mixed methods study leads the authors to conclude that a funnel of causality concept, path dependency, pro-social attitudes, and the concepts of moral panic and moral dialogue collectively lead to great insight into the question of why some communities are open and accepting while others are exclusionary.

This book analyzes the energy security of the United States - its ability to obtain reliable, affordable, and sufficient supplies of energy while meeting the goals of achieving environmental sustainability and protecting national security. The economic and national security of the United States is largely dependent upon fossil fuels, especially oil. Without significant changes to current practices and patterns of energy production and use, the domestic and global impacts - security, economic, and environmental - are expected to become worse over the coming decades. Growing US and global energy demands need to be met and the anticipated impacts of climate change must be avoided - all at an affordable price, while avoiding conflict with other nations that have similar goals. Bernell and Simon examine the current and prospective landscape of American energy policy, from tax incentives and mandates at the federal and state level to promote wind and solar power, to support for fracking in the oil and natural gas industries, to foreign policies designed to ensure that markets and cooperative agreements - not armies, navies and rival governments - control the supply and price of energy resources. They look at the variety of energy related challenges facing the United States and argue that public policies designed to enhance energy security have at the same time produced greater insecurity in terms of fostering rising (and potentially unmet) energy needs, national security threats, economic vulnerability, and environmental dangers.

Now in a thoroughly revised third edition, Public Policy: Preferences and Outcomes is designed to help students enrolled in a public policy course discuss policy issues and understand the ways in which public policy is grounded in normative theory. This approachable book examines the role of political theory in the governance process and the effect of public opinion on policy priorities and government. It introduces students to the tools of policy analysis and the most up to date policy theories in conceptualizing public policy in several major policy areas. New to this edition: A thoroughly revised and updated chapter on public policy models, including new sections on the importance of science, pluralism, institutional analysis and development, multiple streams, the advocacy coalition framework, the punctuated equilibrium framework, policy diffusion, and the constructivist approach. New sections on health policy, welfare economics and the public good, the nuclear arms race, the War on Terrorism, the Quadrennial Defense Review, contemporary policing techniques and issues, and renewable energy. Restructured and rewritten sections on social policy and equality that includes sections on employment, LGBTQ rights and same sex marriage, the legalization of marijuana, and income inequality. Assuming no prior knowledge of the subject, and offering instructors a variety of ways to tailor the book to their classroom setting and course priorities, Public Policy: Preferences and Outcomes, 3e is a highly flexible and effective teaching resource for introductory public policy courses at the undergraduate level and also serves as an ideal refresher book for students at the graduate level.

The second edition of the book builds on first edition material, but with significant updates on dramatic changes within the renewable energy sector over the last decade. As before, the book will discuss the basic technical aspects of major renewable energy systems and technological developments; the impact of politics on energy policy using contemporary theories of public policy (such as, Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF), Punctuated Equilibrium (PE), Narrative Policy Framework, and Policy Diffusion), as well as discussing the evolution of the social feasibility of renewable energy. Alternative energy solutions, such as nuclear power, will remain in the second edition, but the section will be expanded to discuss nuclear power developments and feasibility in the post-Fukushima policy environment. International commitment to renewable energy will be highlighted in the manuscript to discuss the U.S. in context.

Now in a thoroughly revised third edition, Public Policy: Preferences and Outcomes is designed to help students enrolled in a public policy course discuss policy issues and understand the ways in which public policy is grounded in normative theory. This approachable book examines the role of political theory in the governance process and the effect of public opinion on policy priorities and government. It introduces students to the tools of policy analysis and the most up to date policy theories in conceptualizing public policy in several major policy areas. New to this edition: A thoroughly revised and updated chapter on public policy models, including new sections on the importance of science, pluralism, institutional analysis and development, multiple streams, the advocacy coalition framework, the punctuated equilibrium framework, policy diffusion, and the constructivist approach. New sections on health policy, welfare economics and the public good, the nuclear arms race, the War on Terrorism, the Quadrennial Defense Review, contemporary policing techniques and issues, and renewable energy. Restructured and rewritten sections on social policy and equality that includes sections on employment, LGBTQ rights and same sex marriage, the legalization of marijuana, and income inequality. Assuming no prior knowledge of the subject, and offering instructors a variety of ways to tailor the book to their classroom setting and course priorities, Public Policy: Preferences and Outcomes, 3e is a highly flexible and effective teaching resource for introductory public policy courses at the undergraduate level and also serves as an ideal refresher book for students at the graduate level.

This book analyzes the energy security of the United States - its ability to obtain reliable, affordable, and sufficient supplies of energy while meeting the goals of achieving environmental sustainability and protecting national security. The economic and national security of the United States is largely dependent upon fossil fuels, especially oil. Without significant changes to current practices and patterns of energy production and use, the domestic and global impacts - security, economic, and environmental - are expected to become worse over the coming decades. Growing US and global energy demands need to be met and the anticipated impacts of climate change must be avoided - all at an affordable price, while avoiding conflict with other nations that have similar goals. Bernell and Simon examine the current and prospective landscape of American energy policy, from tax incentives and mandates at the federal and state level to promote wind and solar power, to support for fracking in the oil and natural gas industries, to foreign policies designed to ensure that markets and cooperative agreements - not armies, navies and rival governments - control the supply and price of energy resources. They look at the variety of energy related challenges facing the United States and argue that public policies designed to enhance energy security have at the same time produced greater insecurity in terms of fostering rising (and potentially unmet) energy needs, national security threats, economic vulnerability, and environmental dangers.