Recent School Reform

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Recent School Reform
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Federal Reforms

• A Nation at Risk
• 1983

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• ...the educational foundations of our society
  are presently being eroded by a rising tide of
  mediocrity that threatens our very future as a
  Nation and a people. (U.S. Dept of Education,
  1983)

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Content

• Tougher classes and more of them
• Courses more rigorous
• More student effort to learn
• More homework
• Higher standards

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Expectations

• Tougher grading policies
• Higher expectations for student performance
• Colleges and universities should raise admissions
  standards

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Time

• Longer, 7-hour days
• School year with 200-220 days
• More efficient use of current school day

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Teacher Quality

• Higher Standards for Teacher
• Preparation Programs
• Teachers salaries more
• competitive
• 11-month contracts
• Differentiated pay
• Incentives
• Mentoring programs

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1989 Education Summit

• Goals 2000
• Should the federal government set national
  standards and a national curriculum with a
  testing component?

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Yes!

• Students move around considerably
• Huge turnover in inner-city schools
• Standard curriculum and testing with help
  students have a more consistent education in
  spite of their locations

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No!

• Dont want D.C. bureaucrats deciding a national
  curriculum
• Local control is best
• Will trample diversity of ethnic groups in
  schools
• Will hurt special needs children

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State Reforms
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• Graduation requirements tougher
• Mandating core subjects (to graduate or go to
  college)
• More school days and more time
• State testing
• School Choice and vouchers

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2002 January

• No Child Left Behind law is proposed by
  President Bush and is passed by the U.S. Congress