Digital Commons Network^™

Autonomy In The Spaces: Teacher Autonomy, Scripted Lessons, And The Changing Role Of Teachers, Madhu Narayanan, A. L. Shields, T. J. Delhagen

Educational Leadership and Policy Faculty Publications and Presentations

The work of teachers has historically been highly controlled, but one area teachers have been granted considerable autonomy is in instruction and planning. Teacher autonomy is a complex concept with important implications for both the quality of instruction and teacher persistence in the field. The rise of charter management organizations (CMOs) and the increasing use of scripted lesson plans (SLPs) have introduced new institutional arrangements with unknown impacts on teachers’ perceptions of autonomy. This mixed method study surveyed 155 teachers across all grade levels from CMOs, independent charter, and district schools, on their perceptions of autonomy related to lesson planning. …