Modelos locais de governação na educação

In 2023 the transfer of competences in the field of education becomes an unavoidable point on the agenda of local authorities and of school clusters and non-grouped schools. Whether on a local or territorial level, the regulation modes in the field of education may correspond to models of dominance and subordination, or participation, co-authorship, or socio-communitarian regulation. These different types of regulation, contradictory and ambiguous, may jeopardize the role of the State in ensuring justice, democracy, and equity. This article outlines the investigation project presented for the qualification exam of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, in which we intend to study the different models of governance adopted in different municipalities and analyse how those models contribute to the development of individuals, organizations, and local contexts. Through an extensive case of study to be conducted in the municipalities of the Porto Metropolitan Area, we will try to address the governance models adopted since the program Aproximar, until the present. The methodology to be adopted is a mixed methodology, involving document analysis, interviews and surveys. It is expected that several forms of governance will be found, defining three possible types: a socio communitarian regulation, or municipalist, or ambiguous centralist, making uncertain the direction of educational development in the territory.