Aims and scope

Aims & Scope

Journal of Education Policy (JEP) is a globally recognised journal that publishes original research and analysis about education policy with a unique focus on investigations that advance debates and understanding about the changing design and influence of education policy.

The journal offers a global forum for publishing original research that advances debates and deepens understanding about education policy through diverse and complementary theoretical perspectives, comparative lenses and detailed examinations of different contexts, phases and levels of education. A valuable resource for academics, researchers, educators, students, and policy makers, JEP provides rigorous and original insight into policy framing and design, policy mobility and policy effects within the field of education. These issues are explored across multi-scalar contexts, from local jurisdictions to global institutions.

The journal accepts the following types of submission: original articles, book reviews and response papers.

Beyond mere description – The importance of theoretical and methodological robustness and innovation

The journal publishes papers that offer innovative methods and conceptual tools to framing and advancing studies about education policy. This includes papers that experiment with original forms of analysis or presentation.

The journal particularly welcomes papers that investigate education policy as a research object or analytic. It seeks contributions that mobilise various conceptualisations of policy through the provision of theory or exploration of diverse policy framings, policy histories and policy problems. Additionally, JEP encourages research that investigates the effects of policy on different institutional contexts and populations.

The journal is not wedded to a particular branch of theory or orientation. Rather, it is committed to publishing theoretically and methodologically innovative work of any description that ultimately leads to original and significant research.

Beyond national borders - Global audience

The journal is interested in analysis and theorisation of policy that have interest and relevance to a global audience. Therefore, a requirement of publication is that papers address the significance of the research for other geopolitical contexts. This is a key criterion for publishing in JEP.

The journal takes seriously the details of policy in different local, regional and national contexts. But those details need to be meaningful to a global audience through language and analysis that is accessible. Where an article is empirical, the article must ensure that the methodological discussion is adequate and demonstrates rigour and reflexivity in the collection, analysis and explanation of the evidence presented.

Listen to Stephen Ball, Founding Editor of Journal of Education Policy introduce the journal.

Please note that this journal only publishes manuscripts in English.

Readership:
Policy analysts and policy makers, researchers, teachers, students, educational administrators, educational managers, school leaders and governors.

Authors can choose to publish gold open access in this journal.

Read the Instructions for Authors for information on how to submit your article.