The article presents the method in which the reform of the system of higher education and science in Poland in 2016–2018, constituted in the form of a framework act the “Constitution for Science” (known as Law 2.0). It was carried out, with particular emphasis on aspects of the transformation that remain in accordance with the postulates of the model of public co-management or, in relation to this model, remain in clear contradiction. The authors try to point out both the declared aspect of the processes constituting the reform as well as the actual realized dimension of those processes. Therefore, the research question that comes to the fore in the following investigations is: is it possible in the practice of public administration functioning in Poland to create regulatory solutions in line with contemporary achievements of science of administration and politics, such as the paradigm of public participation and the concept of public co-management.