The US System of Education A Personal Perspective

1. The US System of Education A Personal Perspective Katie Subra – subr0054@umn.edu English Language Fellow Minsk State Linguistic University

2. My Experience in Public Education

3. Education Hierarchy in the U.S.

4. Common K-12 Subjects • Language Arts/English • World Languages (sometimes) • Math • Physical Education • Art • Science (Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics) • History & Social Studies • Music • AP Courses • Electives – Art, Music, Phy.Ed, Industrial Arts, … • Geography • Computer Class/Typing • Homeroom/Study Hall • Home Economics (Middle-H.S.) • Industrial Arts (High School)

5. K-12 Norms • Moderate class sizes (15-30 students) • Support for Special Education offered through public schools • Teacher quality and amount of tax dollars spent/pupil varies by district. (The higher the property tax, the higher the public school funding… usually) • Zoning causes competition and limitations for attendance; support for Arts, Music, Sports, Science, … varies by district • Depending on size of district: K-12 could be in 1-4 buildings. (Elementary, Middle School, Jr. High School, Sr. High School) • There are state & national standards; curriculum by districts

6. Alternative Education Models • Private Schools • Charter Schools • Montessori • Immersion Schools • Home-School & Distance Education Montessori & Charter are examples, but some private schools cost or are religiously affiliated Publicly funded; privately operated Self-motivated and individualized education plans; small class sizes; mixed levels Content courses through a foreign language (Chinese, Spanish,…) Parents/Guardians must follow state standards and complete standardized tests; Some online

7. K-12 Socialization • Extra-curriculars • Sports • Academic Clubs • Music in Schools • Theater • Behavior • Society-Team work • Incentives (grades) • Punishments (suspension) • Parent-Teacher conferences, report cards, emails, class site • Friendship • School dances (prom, homecoming) • Holiday events • Yearbooks & Class photos • Volunteer organizations • Class Reunions • Competitiveness • Sports, Academics, Higher Ed • Between pupils & rival schools • Students vary: extreme – lazy

8. http://www.raconline.org/racmaps/

9. Popular College and University Subjects • Larger Universities may be broken down into colleges: • Liberal Arts & Humanities • Medicine & Health • Education & Human Development • Business and Management • Economics and Marketing • Science and Engineering • Nursing • Biological Sciences • Law School or other Graduate programs *Certificates, Professional License, A.A., B.A./B.S., M.A./M.B.A./M.S./M.L.S…, Ed.D/Ph.D/M.D, Post-doc

10. College and University Norms • Most high school students begin applying to 4 year schools in their Junior or Senior year (11th/12th grade) • Competitive colleges require high test scores (SAT, ACT, AP College Courses) as well as volunteer experience and extra-curriculars. • Financial Aid, grants, and scholarships are available, but limited (status) • The percentage of students enrolling in college in the fall immediately following high school completion was 68.2 percent in 2011. • Students often wait to choose their major until after completing general credits in a 4-year University. • While it is possible to complete a B.A. Degree in 4 years, many students take 5 years to do so, depending upon funding situations.

11. Top Schools: Entrance & Rank • Things to consider: • Availability of scholarships (merit & diversity-based) • Location in US or urban/suburban • Individual programs • Cost (Top 10: $40-50,000/year) • Internships or job placement • Professor (well-known, specialists) • Variety v. Depth • Application deadlines & paperwork • Acceptance rate/Rolling enrollment • Language classes or TOEFL requirements • National University Rankings: • Princeton University • Harvard University • Yale University • Columbia University • Stanford University • University of Chicago • Duke University • Massachussets Institute of Technology • University of Pennsylvania • California Institute of Technology/Dartmouth College

12. Profile of My Alma Mater • University of Minnesota – Twin Cities -Close to my home (120 km) -Great Liberal Arts Program, Science & Engineering, Psychology, Education, School of Business -49.5% Acceptance Rate -Tuition $10-15,000 /year -Financial Aid Available -34,000 Students (>6,000 International)

13. Campaigning for Higher Ed

14. WONK Ads:American University – Washington D.C. WONK = Person "in the know" (Knowledgeable) What is their message about their University? Who would it attract?

15. "Hail to the Victors Valiant" Ads: Univeristy of Michigan "Skin cancer is beaten differently here." Field-specific advertisements. What is their message about their University? Who would it attract?

16. Because Ads: University of Minnesota "Driven to Discover. Creativity fuels the new economy." What is their message about their University? Who would it attract?

17. My 1st ESL Class – UM Minnesota English Language Program

18. My most recent ESL Class – WSU (Winona, Minnesota) English Language Center

19. Questions? - Useful Links • American Councils http://www.americancouncils.org/ • Association for American Colleges & Universities http://www.aacu.org/ • ELF Belarus – My Teaching Blog http://elfbelarus.wordpress.com/ • US News Ranking of Top Universities http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/ • Contact me: subr0054@umn.edu