Edu.net builds upon, and extends, a series of research studies of education policy networks and global policy mobilities. It draws on comprehensive data resulting from a Leverhulme Trust research study focused on Africa, and a study funded by the British Academy focused on India, which explored the way in which global actors and organisations bring policy ideas to bear and are joined up in a global education policy network. This timely and cutting-edge new work develops concepts, analyses and methods deployed in Education Plc (2008), Networks, New Governance and Education (2012) and Global Education Inc. (2012). The research is framed by an elaboration of Network Ethnography, an innovative method of policy research. Edu.net presents the substantive findings of the authors’ research by focusing on various kinds of policy movement – people, ideas, practices, methods, money. The book is about both global education policy and ways of researching policy in a global setting. It is an essential read for policy analysts, educational academic researchers and postgraduate education students alike.

Uma escola para todos e para cada um é um projeto inovador, que demanda radical e contínua transformação nas abordagens de ensino e aprendizagem. Mais do que uma crítica à instituição escolar atual – esse “sapato pesado” cujos problemas vêm sendo tratados em diversas pesquisas –, o paradigma inclusivo de educação requer a reinvenção da escola e de todas as suas práticas e didáticas. Trata-se de uma abordagem que não menospreza a complexidade do sujeito que aprende, inserido em contextos sociais, econômicos, ambientais e culturais diversos. Destinada a profissionais e estudantes da educação e da saúde, como professores de todos os níveis, gestores, psicólogos e alunos dos cursos de pedagogia e psicologia – e também a pessoas com deficiência e seus representantes –, esta obra apresenta, entre outros temas: • o conceito de inclusão; • os entraves à verdadeira educação inclusiva; • as principais dúvidas e angústias de pais e professores; • a inclusão na perspectiva da legislação brasileira; • recursos, procedimentos e práticas que ajudam os alunos – com e sem dificuldades físicas e/ou psíquicas – a estabelecer uma relação rica e prazerosa com o aprendizado; • casos reais de sucesso em escolas públicas e particulares de diversas localidades do país; • possibilidades de superar as barreiras à inclusão.

Educational inequalities have strongly impacted disadvantaged and underservedpopulations such us indigenous, Roma, migrant children, students with disabilities,and those affected by poverty. A wide array of research has contributed toexplaining the mechanisms and effects of inequalities in the achievement patterns,dropout rates, disengagement in the school experiences of children and youthtraditionally excluded. Research also suggests the negative consequences for childdevelopment – including cognitive, language, and social–emotional functioning – ofpoverty and lack of quality education in the early years. Consequently, the currentunequal access to optimal learning environments for every single child to succeedin education and to have a better life perpetuates the exclusion and neglects theright to education for those minorities. This Research Topic aims at moving beyondcauses and shed light upon effective solutions by providing successful pathways forintegration and inclusion of the learners most heavily affected. Scholars worldwide are looking for successful actions with children, youth, andcommunities of learners historically underserved to overcome educational andsocial exclusion. These transformative approaches go beyond the deficit thinkingand are grounded in theories, empirical evidence, and multidisciplinary interventionsoriented towards achieving social impact, which refers to the extent to which thoseactions have contributed to improve a societal challenge. The international networkof “Schools as Learning Communities” is advancing knowledge on deepening andexpanding the impact of what has been defined as Successful Educational Actions(SEAs); that is, those interventions that improve students’ achievement and socialcohesion and inclusion in many diverse contexts, regardless the socioeconomic,national, and cultural environment of schools. Drawing on the evidence generated by this network of researchers to address the globalchallenge of inequality by studying educational actions oriented towards achievingsocial impact and potentially transferrable to other contexts, this Research Topic aimsat deepening on this approach. In short, our purpose is that the contributions includedin this Research Topic contribute to reduce educational and social inequalities andespecially benefit those populations most in need.