Educational Policy and Action: Albany Plain Local School District - Essay Example

The paper "Educational Policy and Action: Albany Plain Local School District" is a wonderful example of a management essay. Many organizations normally have both formal and informal policies. All of them act as a guideline to stakeholders therein. This paper identifies informal policies in a local school district. It further explains how they relate to the formal policies within the institution. The paper will elaborate more on how the policies are developed, why they were developed and whether the two types are in conflict or not.

Albany plain local school district has informal policies that direct teacher, students and even the auxiliary staff. One of the informal policies therein states that any student who misbehaves will be subject to two months suspension from school. This policy was developed by the head teacher since he noted that the formal policy on misbehavior was not as strict and the school had very many misbehavior cases among students. This policy is not in conflict with formal policy but it is simply improving its effectiveness.

(Fowler, 2008) Another policy within the school also states that teachers have to be in school during all the working hours. It was developed by the head teacher after he noted that students seeking assistance from teachers after lessons never accessed them. This was because teachers left for their own personal reasons. It was put in place to instill discipline in teachers an improve student performance. It strengthens the formal policy and therefore the two are not conflicting. Albany plain local school district also has an informal policy that states that students who have any social or academic problem should approach their class teacher and not the head teacher.

This policy was developed by both teachers and administrators. This was put in place in order to avoid students crowding in the head teacher’s office. It was also enacted so that students would not undermine their teachers. The policy is not in conflict with formal policy within the school. In fact it helps in enhancing its effectiveness and overall efficiency. (Fowler, 2008) Another informal policy in Albany plain local school district states that every student has to be handing in their assignment to the teacher in person.

The policy was put in place by teachers because many students were claiming to have handed in assignments through friends and yet they could not prove this. It was enacted to avoid laziness and students failing to do their assignments. This was to help improve student performance and enhance relationship between them and teachers. The policy is not in conflict with formal policy but they simply compliment each other. (Fowler, 2008) The other informal policy states that every stakeholder who uses school funds for any reason has to sign the relevant documents.

He or she also has to explain the reason for taking the money. The policy was developed by the school administrators to minimize fraud cases which were rampant. The policy works hand in hand with the formal policy dealing with the same issue. (Fowler, 2008) In conclusion, all organizations normally have both formal and informal policies. Most of the informal policies are developed by teachers or school administrators. The informal policies in Albany plain local school district are working hand in hand with the formal policies.

It is quite evident that informal policies in this local school district play a big role in enhancing effectiveness and efficiency of the formal policies.