ABSTRACT

This paper is to discuss the implementation of public policies based on a case study of the More Literacy Program, an initiative of the Ministry of Education that aimed to support public schools to place a literacy assistant in supporting the literacy teacher. Based on interviews with teachers and managers from three schools in the Federal District, the study explores implementation according to the perception of “street-level bureaucrats”, civil servants who work directly with citizens who benefit from public policies. Among other conclusions, the analysis of interviews shows that implementation is not uniform, but that, even within each educational establishment, there are levels of power and discretion that need to be considered. Besides, it highlights that the protagonists adapt public policy to the context. It also identifies several problems in the program model, demonstrating that the implementation was not successful.

KEYWORDS
implementation analysis; literacy; More Literacy Program; discretion