Regulation by Results and Reconfigurations in Institutional Arrangements Aimed at the Democratic School Government

Abstract

In the context of the growing implementation of accountability measures in basic education identified with policies of regulation by results, this paper analyzes possible reconfigurations of institutional arrangements to account for democratic school government in terms of participation and social control. We conducted this documental research in two Brazilian capitals (Fortaleza [CE] and Palmas [TO]). We surveyed, examined, and systematized target documents, guidelines, measures, and conditions for the democratic government of public basic education, which were in line with result-based regulation policies carried out since the 2000s. Nonetheless, we conclude that the ensemble of changes in each capital may indicate some favoring of the institutional conditions of participation and social control. However, we highlight that the suggested potential of these changes seems to lose power when faced with a political-institutional framework that emphasizes measures identified with policies of regulation by results.