TY - JOUR
T1 - A focusing tragedy
T2 - Public policy and the establishment of afrocentric education in Toronto
AU - Thompson, Debra
AU - Wallner, Jennifer
PY - 2011/12/1
Y1 - 2011/12/1
N2 - In January 2008, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) voted to establish Afrocentric education. Earlier proposals dating back to the early 1990s, however, garnered little response from the board. Why was the TDSB suddenly more amenable to the idea? We argue that the death of Jordan Manners acted as a focusing event that triggered concern regarding school safety and the challenges facing Black youth in Toronto, altering the policy climate and opening a window of opportunity for change. This analysis furthers conceptualizations of the connections between focusing events, policy entrepreneurs, the viability of alternative proposals, and the catalysts that facilitate policy change.
AB - In January 2008, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) voted to establish Afrocentric education. Earlier proposals dating back to the early 1990s, however, garnered little response from the board. Why was the TDSB suddenly more amenable to the idea? We argue that the death of Jordan Manners acted as a focusing event that triggered concern regarding school safety and the challenges facing Black youth in Toronto, altering the policy climate and opening a window of opportunity for change. This analysis furthers conceptualizations of the connections between focusing events, policy entrepreneurs, the viability of alternative proposals, and the catalysts that facilitate policy change.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84858656363&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84858656363&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S000842391100076X
DO - 10.1017/S000842391100076X
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84858656363
SN - 0008-4239
VL - 44
SP - 807
EP - 828
JO - Canadian Journal of Political Science
JF - Canadian Journal of Political Science
IS - 4
ER -
