BEYOND A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA - EDUCATION POLICY APPROACHES OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION

Federal education policy is often described in the relatively narrow t erms of education program legislation and regulations. The heart of th e article is a set of case studies that illustrates and explains the U .S. Department of Education's increasing reliance on a variety of appr oaches, in addition to legislation, to promote its education reform st rategies. The case studies also demonstrate the department's trajector y toward a new policy-making model-one that combines a relatively smal l piece of legislation with a major public campaign significant both i n its intended scope and level of involvement across all sectors. Thes e case studies reveal a critical, albeit far less known, federal prese nce in education policy that may prove essential to forging greater co mmon ground in education in the future.