K-12 EDUCATION REFORMS
HOW TO USE THIS PRESENTATION DECK This slide deck has been created by the U.S. Department of Education as a resource tool for the public and is part of a larger “bookshelf” of resources that may be found on the Department’s website. Within the larger bookshelf, you will find individual resource “booklets” like this one, on topics ranging from early learning to higher education. Together, these booklets provide facts and data on: – Progress in education reform – The challenges ahead – The U.S. Department of Education’s initiatives in these areas Please view the notes section on each slide for additional information and resources. The entire deck is in the public domain, and may be used and shared freely. 2
K-12 REFORM: THE NEED It is clear what it means to be prepared for tomorrow's economy. Already, three-quarters of the fastest-growing occupations require education beyond a high school diploma. However, K-12 schools in the United States aren't preparing enough students for that reality. Despite progress, today, the United States has one of the highest high school dropout rates among other high-performing nations across the world. DESPITE PROGRESS, MUCH FURTHER TO GO 3
K-12 REFORM: THE NEED Too many students arrive at college and discover they are underprepared for college-level work. The need for remediation is widespread. When considering all first-time undergraduates, studies have shown between 28 to 40 percent of students enroll in at least one remedial course. For community college students, several studies have found remediation rates surpassing 50 percent. REMEDIAL EDUCATION 4
K-12 REFORM: Today, earning a high school diploma isn’t enough. Every student should graduate with postsecondary credits or career-related certifications. Rural and small-town schools can help lead in this effort. Reynoldsburg High School in rural Reynoldsburg, Ohio, is a great example. – As part of its eSTEM program, all students are prepared to attend a two- or four-year college or earn industry-recognized certificates. – eSTEM has a 100 percent on-time graduation rate and, in the first class of graduates last year, 80 percent enrolled in their first choice of four-year colleges. 5 SNAPSHOT FROM THE FIELD – RURAL EDUCATION SUCCESS
K-12 REFORM: SNAPSHOT FROM THE FIELD – STEM EDUCATION 6
K-12 REFORM: The Carrollton, Ga., Southwire Company’s “12 for Life” program offers students who have fallen behind in high school the opportunity to attend class and make money by working in a Southwire manufacturing facility. SNAPSHOT FROM THE FIELD – CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION 7
K-12 REFORM: The School Wide Integration Framework for Transformation (SWIFT) Center is housed at the University of Kansas and supported by the U.S. Department of Education. This national center is demonstrating how federal dollars can help provide high-quality technical assistance to K-8 schools, so that they can better serve all learners. The center works with educators, schools, and districts to provide academic and behavioral supports and to promote the learning and achievement of ALL students, particularly those with the most extensive special needs. 8 SNAPSHOT FROM THE FIELD – SPECIAL EDUCATION
K-12 REFORM: In the 21st century, knowledge-based economy, a well- rounded education is not a luxury, but a necessity. The arts are an integral component of a well-rounded education. Findings from longitudinal studies show the following benefits of high-quality arts education: – Students who had arts-rich experiences in high school showed higher overall GPAs than students who lacked these experiences. – Arts-engaged high school students enrolled in competitive colleges—and in four-year colleges in general—at higher rates than did students with low arts engagement. – Low-income students with arts-rich experiences in high school were more than three times as likely to earn a bachelor’s degree as low-income students without arts-rich experiences in school. 9 THE ARTS AND A WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATION
K-12 REFORM: SNAPSHOT FROM THE FIELD – ARTS EDUCATION 10
K-12 REFORM: SNAPSHOT FROM THE FIELD – ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION 11
CRADLE TO COLLEGE AND CAREER Please see the additional slide deck “booklets” in this 13-part presentation for more information about needs and efforts in these areas: Improving Education for all Students Quality Early Learning Teachers & Leaders STEM Education Turnaround Schools Safe Schools Standards & Assessments Technology & Data College Affordability & Completion Ladders of Opportunity 12 IMPROVING EDUCATION ACROSS THE SPECTRUM