Education in America
Overview of the U.S.
Educational System
Overview Topics
Overview of the U.S. Educational System:
o The roles of federal, state and local government:
o Financing of education (who is responsible for what)
o Numbers (students, teachers in the school system)
o school calendar
o Types of school (public, private, charter, religious, other)
o Grades/ages
o Community involvement in education
o Certification for administrators, teachers
o Training opportunities
o Student Assessment
Federal, State and Local Government
U.S. Department of Education - federal regulations related to Title
Mandates – tied to funding (3 – 5% of school budgets):
• Equal rights for women – Title IX
• Support for at-risk children and families – Title I
• IDEA – 504 and Special Education
State Education Agency– Constitutional right for states to regulate
education – funding coordination to school districts (95% of budget to dist)
• State Commissioner appointed by governor
• Elected state board of education oversees state curriculum,
testing requirements, personnel regulations (retirement)
Local District – Elected school boards of 7 – 9 members
• Hire/evaluate the superintendent
• Budget oversight – distribution of funds to schools, salary
schedules for employees, etc.
The politics and economics of
education in the U.S.
Political debate
 “No Child Left Behind” – data driven environment
 School choice
 Private school vouchers
Sources of funding
 Federal
 State
 Local school district
 Private funds
 Schools receive a combination of funds
 Funding may be de-centralized
AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
Doctoral Degree
(3-6 years) Ph.D.
PostSecondary
School
Master's Degree
(2-3 years)
Community College (2 mo. - 2 years)
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AGE
Graduate
School
College/University (4 years)
Undergraduate Degree B.A., B.S.
High School (4 years)
Secondary
School
Middle School (Junior High) (3 years)
Elementary School (5 years)
Primary
School
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Preschool/Kindergarten
GRADE
Side-by side Comparison
School Choice in America
Public vs. Private Education
Do you know how these education options differ?
 Public schools
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Charter schools (state or district)
Magnet schools (district schools of choice)
Private schools (religious, for profit, non-profit)
Compulsory education (Kinder or 1st to graduation)
High school diploma vs. G.E.D.
Home school
49.5 million public school students and 3.1 million
teachers
Approximately 6 million students in private (ies)
Alternative forms of Education
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Virtual School – popular in rural areas, high school credit recovery and
students who need more flexible schedules
Home schooling
 In 2007, approximately 1.5 million children were home
schooled: 2.9% of all children.
 Often associated with religious groups.
Private Schools/Private Academies
 Funded solely by student tuition.
 May offer more specialized courses or special needs.
Parochial School
 Run by church organizations.
 Funded by student tuition and petitioner contributions.
Charter School
 Funded by both private funds and public funds.
 Stricter control over enrollment (entry and continued)
Educator Credentialing and hiring
Teachers
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Bachelor’s Degree (4 yr) plus state exam for grade level or content level.
Additional certifications may be added by coursework and exam in Special
Education, English as a Second Language, Gifted and Talented, Bilingual,
etc.
Depending on the state, may be unionized to advocate for benefits and
salaries
Usually hired by principal and/or committee of school stakeholders
Appraisals of performance based on student achievement
Usually one year contracts
Some states offer tenure to highly effective teachers
Retirement benefits vary by state
Not paid during summer
Administrators
Principals require teacher credential PLUS minimum 3 years experience as a
teacher, master’s degree, state exam
 Depending on the state, may be unionized to advocate for benefits and
salaries
 Usually hired by superintendent and/or committee of school stakeholders
 Appraisals of performance based on student achievement, surveys, discipline
referrals
 Usually one year contracts
Superintendents may require teacher credential PLUS principal credentials
PLUS superintendent exam
 Not unionized
 Usually hired by local school board of trustees
 Appraisals of performance based on district data, budget and community
satisfaction
 Usually 1 to 3 year contracts – characteristically high turnover rates
Professional Development
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Training opportunities provided by the school
district during the day or afterschool
Many offered on-line to be completed during
teacher planning time or afterschool
Early dismissal days throughout the year for PD
and/or parent conferences
Graduate degrees pursued and paid for by
teacher – not subsidized
National teacher certification - http://www.nbpts.org/
National principal certification – pilot discontinued
American Primary/Elementary Schools
• Public Elementary School teachers instruct between 20-30 students
of diverse learning needs.
• A typical classroom will include children with a range of learning needs
or abilities, from those identified as having special needs (special education)
to students non-native English speakers (ESL students).
• Each local school district provides textbooks to give to the students for each
subject, and brief overviews of what the teacher are expected to teach.
• Learning standards are identified for all areas of a curriculum by individual
States, including those for mathematics, social studies, science, physical
development, the fine arts, and reading.
• Elementary School teachers are trained with emphases on human cognitive
and psychological development and the principles of curriculum development
and instruction.
• Teachers typically earn either a Bachelors or Masters Degree in Early
Childhood and Elementary Education.
• Certification standards for teachers are determined by individual states.
Typical Day of an American Elementary School Teacher
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A typical teacher works 8 hours, 5 days a week, at the same
school. [August/September-June]
Federal Holidays and summer vacations off from work.
Primary school teachers may teach the same group of students (20-30
students) for the full day or the campus may be departmentalized – usually
at testing grades (3rd and up)
Courses include: Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies.
Teachers have one (40-45 minute) planning period during the day.
Students receive classes from a different teacher—Music, Art, Gym
(sports), Drama, Chorus, etc. during the teacher’s planning period
Teachers meet weekly during the day to discuss students and curriculum
called Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
Teachers must have one lunch break (30 minute) during the day.
Many teachers stay after school to participate in extracurricular activities
for students or provide additional teaching time.
American Secondary Schools: Middle School
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Middle School include the 6th – 8th grades between
elementary school and senior high school.
At this time, students are given more independence:
 Having different teachers for each subjects.
 Taking on more independent homework
assignments and projects.
 Moving to different classrooms for different
subjects
 being allowed to choose some of their class
subjects (electives).
American Secondary Schools: High School
 High school - 9th through 12th grade.
 The students in these grades are classified as:
 Freshmen (grade 9)
 Sophomores (grade 10)
 Juniors (grade 11)
 Seniors (grade 12)
 Students are encouraged to pursue a concentration in a
specific area of study in preparation for college
 Early college options allow students to earn college
credits simultaneously
 Vocational programs provide certifications for graduation
High School Curriculum
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Students take a broad variety of classes
Curricula vary widely in quality and rigidity
 Some states consider 65 (on a 100-point scale) a passing grade,
while others consider it to be as low as 60 or as high as 75.
Varied tracks to graduation include Advanced Placement (AP) courses which
result in graduation plans with higher GPAs
End of Course exams required to earn credit toward graduation
Mandatory subjects are required in nearly all U.S. high schools:
 Science (3 years of biology, chemistry and physics)
 Mathematics (4 years of algebra, geometry, pre-calculus, statistics,
and calculus)
 English (4 years of literature, humanities, composition, etc.)
 Social sciences (3 years world and U.S. history, gov./economics)
 Physical education (4 years)
 Many states require a "health" course (anatomy, first aid, sexuality,
birth control)
Extracurricular Activities in American Schools
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A major characteristic of American schools is the high priority given to sports,
clubs and activities
Extracurricular activities are educational activities not falling within the scope of
the regular curriculum but under the supervision of the school.
These activities can extend to large amounts of time outside the normal school
day and include:
 Sports Programs—Football, Basketball, Soccer, Swimming,
Wrestling, Cheerleading, Rowing, Dance, etc.
 Performing Arts—orchestra bands, jazz bands, marching bands,
choirs, school plays/drama clubs/musicals
 Debate teams, Student Government, Public Awareness
Organizations, Various Clubs (Poetry Club, Photography Club, etc.)
 Language clubs (primarily Spanish and French clubs)
 Cultural activities
Many parents pay for lessons and activities to supplement their children’s
edcuation.
Social Issues in American Education
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English Acquisition
 Debate on how to best accommodate for non-English
speaking students and parent interest in foreign language
instruction.
 ESL programs vs. Bilingual programs
 Dual Language Programs
Common Core - Nationwide Education Content and Education Quality
 Different content, grade systems and quality
 Textbook Review and Adoption
Other Issues
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Education regarding violence, sex and drug abuse
GLBTQ – Social issues and integration
Support students who are working
Common Core States
Post-secondary Education
Options
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Public/private universities and colleges
Community colleges and vocational
schools
Rising Cost of Tuition for higher
education/school loans
Cost of Higher Education
CNN/Money reported tuition hikes in 2004/05
Student Assessment
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Cost to taxpayers – Big business as states
out-source testing administration/scoring to
private companies
Preparation for the test diminishes
students and teachers as people
Need for accountability and equity
Tremendous stress in children contributing
to mental health issues
Educators leaving the profession
Community Involvement in Education
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Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) or
Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO)
Site-based Decision-Making Committee
(SDMC)
Booster Clubs
Fundraising – festivals, raffles, sales
School Boards elected to oversee district
schools
Garden Oaks Montessori
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Pre-Kindergarten (3 yr olds to 8th grade)
780 students
7:45am – 3:00pm (extended day 7:15am to 6pm)
Free breakfast and dinner
Sliding scale lunch
Welcoming Schools campus of Excellence
National Magnet School of Distinction
Robotics, library, music, physical education, computer lab,
science lab, gardens
• Video of MSAP grant work
Thank you!
Lindsey Pollock, Ed. D.
Garden Oaks Montessori, Houston Independent School District
lpollock@houstonisd.org
(713) 822-2274