Why America is Failing

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 changed America’s approach to education by focusing on accountability. Schools and teachers are now required to prove how they are meeting student needs. This boils down to excellent standard test results…or else. The government punishes schools and states for low student achievement. Accountability equals standardized testing and similar tests as means of determining student achievement. As a result students are “taught to the test.”

American curriculum focuses more on standardized test content than actual student learning needs. This focus on test prep is only retained by students in the short-term and is not relevant to the needs of students in the long- term. How can students compete in the global landscape when they are not learning the appropriate curriculum?

There are 52 different accountability structures! One for every state – this means that students are learning different curriculum based on different frameworks and test results are assessed using different measurements….. The government uses a unified framework to determine the achievement of all these different assessments. What sense does that make?

TAIWAN CHINA SWITZERLAND CANADA JAPAN FINLAND ESTONIA KOREA

* Same curriculum for all students * Light homework loads * Very little standardized testing * Children do not start school until age 7 * Comprehensive preschool program that emphasizes "self- reflection" and socializing, not academics * Grades are not given until high school * Teachers must have master's degrees * Becoming a teacher in Finland is highly competitive

* Students are separated into academic and vocational tracks during the last three years of high school * Diagnostic testing of students is used early and frequently * Intensive intervention is provided for students in need of extra help. * Groups of teachers visit each other’s' classes to observe their colleagues at work. * Teachers get one afternoon per week for professional development. * School funding is higher for the middle school years when dropping out is at the highest risk. * College is free.

* Highly qualified instructors * Less emphasis on grades and standardized testing * More emphasis on the act of learning, critical thinking and collaboration * Unified curriculum and core standards for assessing progress * Learner-centered approaches

It is a FACT that American students are FAILING compared to more than a dozen other countries. The time to act is NOW! Students are our future, if they fail… WE ALL FAIL! Take a stand and demand change NOW!

References “Global grade: How do U.S. students compare?” Greatschools.com Web. National Commission on Excellence in Education. “A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform.” Web. Shepherd, Jessica. “World Education Rankings: Which Country Does Best at Reading, Maths and Science?” Datablog Web.