THE STATE-LOCAL NEXUS IN POLICY INNOVATION DIFFUSION - THE CASE OF SCHOOL CHOICE

Our knowledge of how policy innovations diffuse in federal systems cou ld be enhanced by paging greater attention to the behavior of policy e ntrepreneurs. This study shows how policy entrepreneurs have helped st imulate the diffusion of stale school-choice plans by collecting and g enerating evidence of the workability of this innovation. Importantly, these policy entrepreneurs have often used evidence from local experi ments to promote state policy change. Thus, a state-focal nexus exists in the diffusion of school choice. This analysis suggests that there is value in conceptualizing policy innovation diffusion in a federal s ystem as both a horizontal (that is, state to state) and a vertical (t hat is, state and local) phenomenon.