education
In the U.S., every state has its own education system, but they have a number of similarities.
general notes
education is provided in public and private schools, as well as homeschooling
standards set by the state by an organization, usually a board, state department of education
funding comes from state and local governments, with some from federal funding
education is compulsory between 5-8 to 16-19, depending on the state
key legislation
Oregon Compulsory Education Act (1922)
required all school-age children in Oregon to attend only public schools
aimed to eliminate private and religious schools, especially those used by immigrant families
later struck down in 1925 by the Supreme Court in Pierce v. Society of Sisters
violated the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment
interfered with parents’ right to direct the upbringing and education of their children
Court ruled that while the state can require schooling, it cannot mandate public school attendance only
Equal protection and due process rights
fair legal procedure and protection before depriving life, liberty, property
National School Lunch Act (1946)
created National School Lunch Program (NSLP) to provide low-cost/free school lunch to qualified students through subsidies to schools
signed into law by President Harry S. Truman
Democratic president who served from 1945 to 1953
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
Supreme Court case that struck down racial segregation in public schools
Overturned the 1896 ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson, which allowed “separate but equal” facilities
Declared that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal
Violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment
Major victory for the civil rights movement and desegregation in the U.S.
Guarantees equal treatment under law
signed into law by President George W. Bush
passed by bipartisan coalition in Congress
provided federal funding to states in exchange for accountability measures
required annual standardized testing to measure student progress
penalized schools that failed to meet performance targets
criticized for overemphasis on testing and lack of flexibility
No Child Left Behind Act (2001)
Republican president who served from 2001 to 2009, read more HERE
Every Student Succeeds Act (2015)
signed into law by President Barack Obama
replaced No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
NCLB had been due for reauthorization since 2007, but bipartisan gridlock delayed action
returned more control to states and local districts over education standards and accountability
maintained annual testing in reading and math (grades 3–8, once in high school)
allowed states more flexibility in measuring school success and addressing underperforming schools
encouraged a broader view of student achievement beyond standardized test scores
set new requirements for students with disabilities; most required to take the same assessments due to staffing/resource limitations
criticism
greater state control has led to inconsistent education quality across states
increase in workload and assignments, disproportionately affecting low-income students
praise
recognized for advancing educational equity
promoted inclusive school leadership
required state investment in leadership development for struggling schools
Democratic president who served from 2009 to 2017
difficult/impossible to pass laws, political stalemate
Race to the Top Grant Program (2009)
signed into law by President Barack Obama after Great Recession in 2008
Obama’s $800 billion stimulus package, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (2009), included $100 billion for public schools
states competing for the grants were awarded points for enacting certain educational policies, like performance based evaluations for teachers and principals
an incentive to improve opportunities to get a grant
complaints from middle class unhappy with the increasing emphasis on teaching to the test
read more in the economy section! CLICK ME
key educational policy terms and issues
educational accreditation
quality assurance process under which educational programs are evaluated and verified by an external body to determine whether standards are met
U.S. delegates this process to private nonprofits
institutional accrediting agencies: review whole colleges or universities
programmatic accrediting agencies: review specific programs (like nursing, law, or businesses)
a school applies to an accrediting agency
agency reviews documents, visits campus, evaluates teachers, curriculum
if meets standards, school gets accredited for certain period (5-10 years)
students can only get federal loans or grants if their school is accredited by a recognized accreditor
schools and employers prefer/require degrees from accredited institutions
educational attainment
refers to the highest level of education completed
as of 2018:
90% of adults (25+) finished high school
35% hold at least a bachelor’s degree (record high)
gender:
girls excel in reading/writing; boys in math/science
women surpass men in high school and college completion
race/ethnicity:
Asian Americans: highest college degree rates
Hispanic/Latino: lowest attainment
Black-white gap narrowing; Black women lead in attainment among Black population
economic link:
more education → higher income and better job prospects
wage gaps by race and gender persist at all education levels
jobs & regions:
white-collar jobs: mostly require college degrees
blue-collar jobs: lower education levels, higher automation risk
northeast: highest attainment; south: lowest
higher education bubble
rising costs: tuition and student debt have soared, some degrees don’t lead to high-paying jobs
over-supply: more college grads than demand → underemployment and questioning value of a degree
bubble risk: if belief in college weakens, enrollments may drop and schools could face cutbacks or closure
Baumol Effect:
explains why college costs rise faster
education isn’t easily automated like manufacturing
to stay competitive, schools raise faculty pay → higher tuition
extra costs:
expensive amenities (luxury dorms, gyms)
textbook prices rising
cost of living away from home often exceeds tuition
financing:
students can borrow large amounts easily
more financial aid available, but it also fuels rising prices
party views
democrats, in general....
strongly support funding public schools
favour more federal and state money for schools, especially in low-income areas
often back teachers’ unions and support higher teacher pay and benefits
support making college more affordable (expanding financial aid, reducing student debt, free community college)
have mixed views on standards and testing, support accountability but less focus on high-stakes testing
republicans, in general....
strongly support school choice (charter schools, vouchers, homeschooling)
prefer local and state control over schools with less federal involvement
are more critical of teachers’ unions, focus on merit pay and performance-based reforms
emphasize job training and trade schools, less supportive of big federal spending to make college free
favour clear standards, testing, accountability to measure school performance