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The Politics of Disruption and the Ongoing Impact on Local Education Politics

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Title: The Politics of Disruption and the Ongoing Impact on Local Education Politics
Language: English
Authors: Annie Gensterblum, Sandy Frost Waldron, Ariell Bertrand, Rebecca Jacobsen
Source: American Journal of Education. 2026 132(2):141-176.
Availability: University of Chicago Press. Journals Division, P.O. Box 37005, Chicago, IL 60637. Tel: 877-705-1878; Tel: 773-753-3347; Fax: 877-705-1879; Fax: 773-753-0811; e-mail: subscriptions@press.uchicago.edu; Web site: http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/journals/aje/about
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 36
Publication Date: 2026
Sponsoring Agency: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Contract Number: R305B200009
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Politics of Education, Educational Change, Local Issues, Boards of Education, Meetings, School Districts, Elections, Board Candidates, School Community Relationship, Trust (Psychology), Governance, Parent Rights
DOI: 10.1086/738771
ISSN: 0195-6744
1549-6511
Abstract: Purpose: This research examines how national actors, like Moms for Liberty (M4L), used the politics of disruption to challenge existing school leaders and reshape local education politics. Research Methods: Using a comparative case study approach, we examine school board meetings in 15 districts (156 meetings) to understand how the presence/absence of nationalized issues and national groups shape local education politics. We compare four case types: M4L-endorsed candidates win the majority of board seats (three cases), M4L-endorsed candidates win a minority of board seats (three cases), Nationalized-Issue presence (six cases), and comparison cases (three cases) with neither nationalized issues nor M4L present. Using an observation protocol, we track changes in engagement, tone, and rules/processes across three time periods: "pre-period" (late 2019 to early 2020), "contentious period" (summer of 2021 through 2022 elections), and "post-period" (after the 2022 elections). Findings: The politics of disruption motivated new actors to engage in board meetings. Attendees engaged in ways that broke with long-standing behavioral norms, mirroring the current style of national politics. Negativity, insults, and even threats to elected leaders grew in frequency, leading to polarization and an us-versus-them atmosphere. To quell the disruption, boards rigidly applied old and new rules in ways that fueled the narrative of unresponsive boards. Implications: This article contributes to the growing body of literature on the nationalization of local education politics. Although increased engagement and accountability from the community might be a positive outcome, our findings show how the politics of disruption can sow distrust and effectively stymie regular governance procedures.
Abstractor: As Provided
IES Funded: Yes
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1500708
Database: ERIC
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  Data: The Politics of Disruption and the Ongoing Impact on Local Education Politics
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Annie+Gensterblum%22">Annie Gensterblum</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sandy+Frost+Waldron%22">Sandy Frost Waldron</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ariell+Bertrand%22">Ariell Bertrand</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rebecca+Jacobsen%22">Rebecca Jacobsen</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22American+Journal+of+Education%22"><i>American Journal of Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 132(2):141-176.
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  Data: University of Chicago Press. Journals Division, P.O. Box 37005, Chicago, IL 60637. Tel: 877-705-1878; Tel: 773-753-3347; Fax: 877-705-1879; Fax: 773-753-0811; e-mail: subscriptions@press.uchicago.edu; Web site: http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/journals/aje/about
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  Data: 10.1086/738771
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  Data: 0195-6744<br />1549-6511
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Purpose: This research examines how national actors, like Moms for Liberty (M4L), used the politics of disruption to challenge existing school leaders and reshape local education politics. Research Methods: Using a comparative case study approach, we examine school board meetings in 15 districts (156 meetings) to understand how the presence/absence of nationalized issues and national groups shape local education politics. We compare four case types: M4L-endorsed candidates win the majority of board seats (three cases), M4L-endorsed candidates win a minority of board seats (three cases), Nationalized-Issue presence (six cases), and comparison cases (three cases) with neither nationalized issues nor M4L present. Using an observation protocol, we track changes in engagement, tone, and rules/processes across three time periods: "pre-period" (late 2019 to early 2020), "contentious period" (summer of 2021 through 2022 elections), and "post-period" (after the 2022 elections). Findings: The politics of disruption motivated new actors to engage in board meetings. Attendees engaged in ways that broke with long-standing behavioral norms, mirroring the current style of national politics. Negativity, insults, and even threats to elected leaders grew in frequency, leading to polarization and an us-versus-them atmosphere. To quell the disruption, boards rigidly applied old and new rules in ways that fueled the narrative of unresponsive boards. Implications: This article contributes to the growing body of literature on the nationalization of local education politics. Although increased engagement and accountability from the community might be a positive outcome, our findings show how the politics of disruption can sow distrust and effectively stymie regular governance procedures.
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        Value: 10.1086/738771
    Languages:
      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 36
        StartPage: 141
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Politics of Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Change
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Local Issues
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      – SubjectFull: Boards of Education
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      – SubjectFull: Meetings
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      – SubjectFull: Elections
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      – SubjectFull: Board Candidates
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      – SubjectFull: School Community Relationship
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      – SubjectFull: Trust (Psychology)
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      – SubjectFull: Governance
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      – SubjectFull: Parent Rights
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      – TitleFull: The Politics of Disruption and the Ongoing Impact on Local Education Politics
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