Chapter 13

1. Chapter 13
Education

2. Education and democratic
ideals
• No Child Left Behind Act
• Horace Mann – common school
• LBJ viewed education as “the answer to
all our national problems.”
• Largest share of state government
spending – elementary and secondary
• Standards

3. Organization and leadership
• State boards of education
• Departments of education
• School boards
• Local education agencies/school districts

4. Money matters
• Sources of school funding
• Federal intervention (judicial and
legislative)
• Examining disparities in educational
resources

5. School funding equity
• Affluent vs. less affluent districts
• Competitiveness
• Quality of education

6. Assessing educational
achievement
• Nation at Risk – 1983
• Standardized tests
– Criterion referenced
– Norm referenced

7. Performance standards
across states
• National Assessment of Educational
Progress (NAEP)
• Trends in International Mathematics and
Science Study (TIMSS)

8. Standards movement
• Kentucky Education Reform Act
• Goals 2000/Educate America Act
• No Child Left Behind Act

9. Advantages and disadvantages of
performance standards
• Increase accountability
• Rigid curriculum
• Reduced flexibility

10. Teachers
• Single most important factor in student
learning
• Shortage
– Low-income schools
– Special education
– Science and math
– Languages
– Technology

11. Alternatives to public schools
• Common schools
• Charter schools
• School voucher programs and
privatization
• Home schooling

12. Advantages and disadvantages of
school vouchers
• Increased flexibility and choice
• Market competition and bureaucratic
efficiency
• Selectivity bias
• Performance disparities

13. Primary educational actors
• Teachers’ unions (NEA and AFT)
• Parents’ groups (PTA)

14. Other educational actors
• National political parties
• Business groups
• Professional and advocacy groups

15. Issues to watch
• Intelligent design
• Minority growth and achievement

16. Conclusion
• Reforming NCLB
• Federal versus local control
• Funding reform