Resumen: Este ensayo presenta los analisis previos de una investigacion denominada fortalecimiento institucional de la capacidad de gestion de docentes y directivos docentes que apunta a establecer los niveles de eficacia escolar generada a partir de la politica de modernizacion educativa aplicada por el Ministerio de Educacion Nacional de Colombia desde principios de este siglo. En este documento se quiere problematizar el contexto de las reformas educativas que dieron lugar a la mo-dernizacion educativa y establecer cuales han sido sus efectos preliminares en cuanto a su eficacia. Entre los hallazgos mas importantes que se establecieron en este documento se encuentra que los periodos posteriores a las reformas educativas de tipo liberalismo educativo no han impactado favorablemente la calidad educativa y por el contrario han generados efectos adversos en acceso. Ademas es evidente un efecto trade-off entre variables cobertura y calidad. Palabras claves: Politica Educativa, eficacia escolar, modernizacion educativa. Abstract: This essay presents the previous analysis of an investigation called institutional strengthening of the ability of teaching and directive management that points at the establishment of school efficacy levels created from the educational modernization applied by the Ministry of National Education of Colombia since the beginning of this century. This document intends to discuss the context of educational reforms that gave rise to the educational modernization and establish which have been their preliminary effects regarding their efficacy. Between the most important finds that are established on this document it is found that subsequent periods to the educational reforms of liberalism-type have not favorably impressed the educational quality and on the other hand, have created adverse effects in access. Besides it is evident a trade-off effect between variables such as coverage and quality. Key words: Educational policy, school efficacy.