Research
Philanthropy
My research on philanthropy is focused on the advocacy efforts and political influence of philanthropic foundations, particularly in education policy.
Book:
Reckhow, Sarah. 2013. Follow the Money: How Foundation Dollars Change Public School Politics. New York: Oxford University Press.
Articles:
Reckhow, Sarah, Megan Tompkins-Stange, and Sarah Galey-Horn. 2021. “How the Political Economy of Knowledge Production Shapes Education Policy:
The Case of Teacher Evaluation in Federal Policy Discourse.” Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis.
Galey-Horn, Sarah, Joseph J. Ferrare, Lorien Jasny, and Sarah Reckhow. 2020. “Building Consensus: Idea Brokerage in Teacher Policy Networks.” American Educational Research Journal. 57(2): 872-905.
Reckhow, Sarah and Megan Tompkins-Stange. 2018. “Financing the Education Policy Discourse: Philanthropic Funders as Entrepreneurs in Policy Networks.” Interest Groups & Advocacy. 7(3): 258-288.
Snyder, Jeffrey W. and Sarah Reckhow. 2017. “Politics Determinants of Philanthropic Funding for Urban Schools.” Journal of Urban Affairs. 39(1): 91-107.
Reckhow, Sarah. 2016. “More than Patrons: How Foundations Fuel Policy Change and Backlash.” PS: Political Science and Politics. 49(3): 449-454.
Reckhow, Sarah. 2015. “Beyond Blueprints: Questioning the Replication Model in Education Philanthropy.” Society. 52(6): 552-558.
Reckhow, Sarah and Jeffrey W. Snyder. 2014. “The Expanding Role of Philanthropy in Education Politics.” Educational Researcher. 43(4): 186-195.
Urban Politics and Policy
In urban politics, I study the role of nonprofits, philanthropies, and advocacy groups.
Articles:
Reckhow, Sarah, Davia Downey, and Joshua Sapotichne. 2020. “Governing without Government: Nonprofit Governance in Detroit and Flint.” Urban Affairs Review.
Lowe, Kate, Juliet Gainsborough, and Sarah Reckhow. 2016. “Capacity and Equity: Federal Funding Competition Between and Within Regions.” Journal of Urban Affairs.
Lester, William T. and Sarah Reckhow. 2013. “Network governance and regional equity: Shared agendas or problematic partners?” Planning Theory. 12(2): 115-138.
Reckhow, Sarah. 2009. “The Distinct Patterns of Organized and Elected Representation of Racial and Ethnic Groups.” Urban Affairs Review. 45(2): 188-217.
Education Politics
In education politics, I study the consequences of new policies (such as charter schools, portfolio management models, alternative certification, and state takeovers) for political mobilization, public opinion, and coalition formation. I also study the impact of outside campaign contributions in school board elections as well as growing partisan polarization in education politics.
Book:
Henig, Jeffrey, Rebecca Jacobsen, and Sarah Reckhow. 2019. Outside Money in School Board Elections: The Nationalization of Education Politics. Harvard Education Press.
Articles:
Finger, Leslie K. and Sarah Reckhow. 2022. “Policy Feedback and the Polarization of Interest Groups.” State Politics & Policy Quarterly.
Grossmann, Matt, Sarah Reckhow, Katharine Strunk, and Meg Turner. 2021. “All States Close but Red Districts Reopen: The Politics of In-Person Schooling during the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Educational Researcher. 50(9): 637-648.
Reckhow, Sarah, Jeffrey R. Henig, Rebecca Jacobsen, and Jamie Alter Litt. 2017. “‘Outsiders with Deep Pockets:’ The Nationalization of Local School Board Elections.” Urban Affairs Review. 53(5): 783-811.
Mason, Mary, and Sarah Reckhow. 2017. “Rootless Reforms?: State Takeovers and School Governance in Detroit and Memphis.” Peabody Journal of Education. 92(1): 64-75.
Reckhow, Sarah, Matt Grossmann, and Benjamin C. Evans. 2015. Policy Cues and Ideology in Attitudes toward Charter Schools. Policy Studies Journal.
Jacobsen, Rebecca, Rachel White, and Sarah Reckhow. 2016. “Cultivating Political Powerhouses: TFA Corps Members Experiences that Shape Local Political Engagement.” Education Policy Analysis Archives. 24(18).
Ansell, Christopher, Sarah Reckhow, and Andrew Kelly. 2009. “How to Reform a Reform Coalition: Outreach, Agenda Expansion, and Brokerage in Urban School Reform.” Policy Studies Journal. 37(4): 717-743.
Youth Voting and Civic Engagement
Bergan, Daniel E., Dustin Carnahan, Nazita Lajevardi, Mel Medeiros, Sarah Reckhow, and Kjerstin Thorson. Forthcoming. “Promoting the Youth Vote: The Role of Informational Cues and Social Pressure.” Political Behavior.
