Reform: Focus on the Curriculum

1. Reform: Focus on the Curriculum Reforms – improve teacher quality & School Curriculum standards (what students should know) If you have questions about yesterday’s material – ask now!!

2. Standards, Testing & Accountability • NCLB Act of 2001- major changes in the curriculum • Past – districts/states had curriculums guides – weren’t widely used • Now – every state – constructed standards that you & your students are accountable for • Think EOC • Teacher Evaluations • Accountability – students will be required to demonstrate that have met the standard

3. Standards, Testing & Accountability • High-stakes tests – standardized assessments that states and districts use • Some districts – you have to pass a test to pass a class, graduate –the stake are high • As a teacher – you have to prepare your students for the test

4. Standards and Assessment • States – tests aligned with standards • KOSSA • Differ the way they administer test • To help teachers – sample questions are available • Help teacher interpret the meaning of the standard • Help guide teachers as they prepare students

5. Controversies in the Standards Movement • Standards, accountability & high stakes testing – facts of your teaching life • Schools are graded depending on student performance • Controversy • Damage both schools and students • High stake test – certain subjects – de-emphasize other subjects • Teachers request out of grades that are tested • Not adequate for making crucial decisions • Decrease motivation & student learning

6. Controversies in the Standards Movement • Advocates • The fairest & most effective means of promoting success for all students • Greatly improve achievement for all students • Parents undecided

7. Reform: Focus on Schools • School Choice • A variety of programs designed to give families the opportunity to choose the school their children will attend • Not the one within geographic location • Vouchers, home schooling & tax credit & deductions – options • Advocates – freedom of choice • Critics – parents already have choices • Charter Schools • Alternative schools that are publicly funded but independently operated • Teachers, community members, a private corporation (or combination of the three) develops a plan “charter” for a school • Local school board/state office must approve • Focus – differs, but most attract parents seeking smaller schools & class sizes, better instruction • About 1/3 – designed by urban community leaders to meet the needs of inner-city youth • Academic benefit – unclear

8. Reform: Focus on Schools • Vouchers – checks or written documents that parents can use to purchase educational services • Parents know what is best for their children need & should be free to purchase the best education • Public or private, or just public • Highly controversial – religious school • Academic benefits – unclear • Public – does not support (research 1/3 American support)

9. Reform: Focus on Schools • State tuition tax credit plan – variation of a school voucher program – parents are given a tax credit for money spent on private tuition. • Better public support • Research – primarily benefit wealthy families who are already sending their children to private schools

10. Reform: Focus on Schools • Homeschooling – parents educate their children at home • Increased in popularity 90% increase from 1999 to 2009 • Most (8/10) home school their children due to religious reasons or the moral climate of the school • All are seeking an alternative to public schooling • State laws – varies • 41 states – no minimum education qualification • 8 states – at least high school diploma • Half states – students have to participate in standardized testing • Typically these student perform well (30 percentile point better) • Unclear if it is instruction or self-selection • Critics • Quality of education?? • Neglect/abuse of children