Using bibliometric and textual content analysis methods,this study reviews and analyzes research on education policy tools in China over the past 20 years.The findings reveal that the selection,application,and international comparative studies of education policy tools are the three main themes with significant output.Substantial progress has been made in this field,characterized by a steady increase in the number of publications,research grounded in practical realities,and an international perspective.However,challenges remain,including a lack of methodological diversity,weak theoretical foundations,and imbalanced research content.Future breakthroughs can be achieved by expanding research methodologies,strengthening theoretical exploration,and enriching the scope of research topics.