Drawing upon interviews with key actors involved in the development of and support for the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in the United States, this article shows how a potentially controversial reform came to be actively supported by senior educators. We utilize Kingdon's (2003, Agendas, alternatives, and public policies, 2nd ed.) concept of policy entrepreneurs to highlight how these educators navigated a complex and contested policy and political environment. We reveal the cogency of Kingdon's argument that specific agendas are dependent upon the coupling of particular problems with relevant policies and political support. However, at particular moments in time, the findings also show how those engaged in the NGSS found it beneficial to uncouple federal accountability agendas that would have limited support for the NGSS.

中文翻译：

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制定和支持下一代科学标准：政策企业家的作用

本文通过对参与美国下一代科学标准 (NGSS) 制定和支持的主要参与者的访谈，展示了一项具有潜在争议的改革如何得到高级教育工作者的积极支持。我们利用 Kingdon（2003 年，议程、替代方案和公共政策，第 2 版）的政策企业家概念来强调这些教育者如何驾驭复杂且有争议的政策和政治环境。我们揭示了 Kingdon 论点的说服力，即特定议程取决于特定问题与相关政策和政治支持的耦合。然而，在特定时刻，调查结果还显示了那些参与 NGSS 的人如何发现将联邦问责议程分离是有益的，因为联邦问责议程对 NGSS 的支持有限。