“Quasi-market” manifestations in external and large scale evaluations

Abstract

This article is based on empirical research on the implementation of external and on a broad scale evaluations in the basic education networks of the Brazilian states in the period from 2003 to 2014. It aims to analyze the presence of foundations and private companies in the processes of formulation and implementation of external and largescale evaluations. Anchored in a qualitative approach, we analyzed documents produced in the scope of the 26 Brazilian states and the Federal District, which allowed us to indicate the existence of a market or "quasi-market" of evaluations. It is, therefore, one of the hallmarks of educational policies in the last decades that combine at the same time increasing state control over educational policies and a growing presence of market logic and private agents in the organization of these policies. It can be seen, therefore, that companies and foundations are responsible for the operationalization of the evaluations in the state systems, constituting a market of evaluations, either in the scope of the control of the processes that acquire a private logic, or in the control of the expertise to implement the evaluations that also are out of control of the management of education systems. In a scenario of budgetary constraints, it is pointed out that, in the international context, the processes of financialization of education are more present and may trigger future implications for these relations, which we refer to as the "quasi-market".