With the theme arrangements for Brazilian municipalities in the field of public policy and education management from the late 1980s, this article is the result of bibliographic and documental study, seeks to map/describe the changes regarding the role of municipalities in the definition of public policies and management education in their territories, forged from the late 1980s to the early twenty-first century, particularly by the context of political liberalization; by the rules; by acts of the National Council of Education; for programs, projects and activities of federal governments; and actions of entities linked by the municipal education. The literature, the paper reports that in the history of Brazilian education, content of municipal autonomy does not remain uniform. In the late 1980s, education, municipalities experience assignments education system. In the 1990s, at least formally, the emphasis and technical guidance turn to the actual process of institutionalization of municipal systems of education / teaching and the need to address the efficiency of municipal systems. In the 2000s, continuing educational programs to support municipalities and is strengthened defense Contribution System, for the establishment of municipal systems of education/teaching. However, problems persist and historical weaknesses with the performance of these federal spheres institutionalization of municipal education and, therefore, to guarantee the right to education.