本文旨在介紹垃圾桶模式（Garbage Can Model），並利用此一模式的主要論點來分析我國的一些教育決策。文章首先依照理性到非理性的順序，簡單介紹行政決策的理論模式。其次討論垃圾桶模式所說「無政府狀態」組織（organized anarchy）的三個特徵及其非理性的決策過程。「無政府狀態」組織的三個特徵為：目標模糊（problematic preferences）、對如何達成目標的方法不甚清楚（unclear technology）、流動性參與（fluid participation）。垃圾桶模式認為，具有上述三項特徵的組織，其決策常決定於四股力量（streams），這四股力量分別是問題（problems）、解決方案（solutions）、參與人員（participants）、和決策的機會（opportunities）。文末並以對我國教育決策的反省做為結語。

This paper introduces the Garbage Can Model and uses the model to analyze some of Taiwan’s educational policies and to examine some of its decision-making processes. The paper first briefly discusses three decision-making models on the basis of their degrees of rationality. Second, it describes the three major characteristics of an “organized anarchy, “ which is the target organization the model intends to study, and the four streams for making a decision in such an organization. The three characteristics are problematic preferences, unclear technology, and fluid participation. The four streams are problems, solutions, participants, and opportunities. Finally, a reflection on educational policy making in Taiwan is presented at the end of this paper.