Abstract

The Chilean educational system is centralized, vertical, and authoritarian, which hinders the participation of educational communities. This study analyzes participation experience in a municipal education corporation. A total of 309 students, 170 principals, 975 teachers, 560 educational assistants, and 358 parents from 54 schools in Valparaíso participated. The information was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results show that all stakeholders prioritized strengthening public education, while the schoolcommunity connection was the lowest priority. The role of the intermediate level in promoting participation in decision-making to democratize educational management is highlighted. © 2024, Centro de Estudos Educacao e Sociedade - CEDES. All rights reserved.