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The debate over urban school reform in the United States is contentious and politicised. This course examines a number of critical issues in the field of education and educational reform, with a focus on aspects of the field that have sparked debate and polarised opinions. We will delve into these debates, situating them within the larger history of public education and school reform, as well as examining the perspectives, evidence, and translation of issues into educational policy.
Learning Objectives :
- develop an informed historical perspective on public schooling in the United States;
- comprehend the unique contextual elements of the American approach to public schooling; and
- analyse and evaluate divergent perspectives on American public school history and school reform policy.
Syllabus :
1. American Public Education: Critical Issues & Historical Context
- Course Overview
- Public Schooling & Local Control
- American Public School Funding
- Concepts of American School Reform, pt. 1: The Theories Behind Reform
- Concepts of American School Reform, pt. 2: The History of Reform
2. The No Child Left Behind Act
- NCLB: Overview
- Building Up to NCLB, 1965-2001
- Part 1: Accountability and Choice
- Part 2: Flexibility and Literacy
- Part 1: The Aftermath of NCLB
- Part 2: Arguments For and Against NCLB
3. The Common Core State Standards
- Overview: Common Core State Standards
- American Schooling Standards, 1892-2015
- Part 1: Developing the Standards
- Part 2: Implementing the Standards
- Arguments For and Against CCSS
4. Interlude 1: Interview and Panel Discussion on NCLB and CCSS
- Meet the Experts
- NCLB Interviews
- CCSS Interviews
- Federal Intervention Interviews
- Panel 1, part 1: School Improvement at Scale
- Panel 1, pt. 2: Standardized Tests
- Panel 1, pt. 3: School-level Reform
5. Summarizing Debates around School Choice
- Overview: School Choice
- School Choice from 1955 Onward
- Part 1: Open Enrollment and Magnet Schools
- Part 2: Tax Credits and Homeschooling
- Arguments For and Against School Choice
6. Charter Schools
- Overview: Charter Schools
- The History Behind Charter Schools, 1955-2015
- What makes charter schools different?
- Part 1: How do charter schools perform?
- Part 2: Arguments For and Against Charter Schools
7. Interlude 2: Interview and Panel Discussion on School Choice and Charter Schools
- School Choice: Meet the Experts
- The School Choice Debate Interviews
- School Choice Interviews: Charter Schools
- Part 1: The Theory Behind School Choice
- Part 2: Teachers and Teachers Unions in Charter Schools
- Part 3: Charter School Results
8. School Accountability: History, Theory of Action, Policy
- Accountability: Overview
- Accountability, 1980-2001
- Part 1: Assessments, Report Cards, and Help to Low-Performing Schools
- Part 2: Turnaround and Rewards to High-Performing Schools
- How have Accountability Methods Changed over Time? 1999-2014
9. Teacher Effectiveness and Evaluation
- Overview: Teacher Effectiveness and Evaluation
- How and Why has Teacher Evaluation Changed over Time?
- How Teacher Evaluation Systems Work
- The Teacher Pathway Perspective
10. Conclusion and Final Assignment
- Meet the Experts
- Accountability Interviews
- High-stakes Testing Interview
- Teacher Quality and Evaluation Interviews
