Mapping public–private partnerships in education in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (2017–2020): Theoretical and methodological propositions

Abstract

In this text, we present the procedures and some theoretical and methodological considerations regarding the mapping of public–private partnerships in education across the 497 municipalities of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. From a historical and critical perspective, the research developed an exploratory investigation based on official public-sector websites and, in the process, systematized the mapping procedures as a methodology relevant to this type of research. The results, made available in an online database, made it possible to identify a broad involvement of the private sector in municipal education in Rio Grande do Sul, particularly in the areas of teacher education, the provision of places in early childhood education, management consultancy, and the acquisition of teaching materials and/or standardized instructional systems.