1. AMERICAN EDUCATION SYSTEM
(Advanced Level)

2. Operation of American Schools
The federal government does not control public schools.
Each state sets some basic guidelines, but most control is local
Each state is divided into school districts. Every school district controls the hire of teachers, decides on textbooks to be used, and controls school finances.
Wisconsin, a state of 170,000 km2 has 426 school districts. Each school district has multiple primary schools, middle schools and high schools.
Education is compulsory for all students until 16 to 18 depending on the state. 
Students that leave school before they graduate are called
“drop-outs” because they “drop out” of school.

3. Types of Schools Public Schools:
Provide 12-years of education commonly referred to as “K-12”
Free and paid for mostly by state taxes.
Prohibited from offering any religious instruction, due to the “separation of church and state”
found in the First Amendment to the US Constitution.
Private Schools:
Independent schools that are not controlled by any government and are not paid for by taxes
Not free, usually quite expensive
Many are run by churches or religious orders, these are known as parochial schools.
Reasons for home schooling: unhappy with school curriculum, inability to attend school do to health problems, religious beliefs, social problems: ie problem child, bullying….
Home schooling:
Children are educated in the home by parents or paid tutors.
In most states students must pass state exams to earn diploma or diploma equivalent
Why home school?

4. K-12 and After
K-12 divided into three school levels: elementary school (K-5), middle school (6-8) and high school (9-12)
Children usually start at age 5 in kindergarten (German for “children’s garden”)
Children may attend nursery school at ages 3 or 4 where emphasis is put more on social development than education (these schools are not free)

5. Primary and Middle School
Primary/Elementary School: Grades K-5, ages 5-10:
Usually begins with half-day kindergarten at age 5
Students stay in one classroom with the same teacher most of the day except for classes
such as physical education, music and foreign language.
Children often have ~30 minutes of “recess” per day where they go outside to play
 The Junior High (Middle) School: Grades 6-8, ages 11-13
Classrooms pertain to certain subjects and students change
classroom and teacher each class period
Aside from required subjects such as Math, English, History, Physical
Education and Science, there are also “elective” classes.
Examples of elective classes:
Foreign Language: 3 most common?
Choir
Band
Drama
Technology
Woodshop

6. High School High School: Grades 9-12, ages 14-17:
Students in grades 9-12 are given special names: (these names are also used for
the four years of college)
Freshman: Grade 9, or first year of college
Sophomore: Grade 10, second year of college
Junior: Grade 11, third year of college
Senior: Grade 12, fourth year of college.
There is an even greater variety of subjects than before and students have more freedom in choosing their courses (although basics such as Math, English, and Science are always required)
Upon completing Senior Year students graduate and receive a High School Diploma – there is no final examination

7. Schedule The school year =175-180 days.
Early September-early June (nine months) and is divided
into 4 ‘quarters’ each 9 weeks (2 ‘semesters’ of 18 weeks each)
~8.30am to 3pm with an hour for lunch in primary school
~7.30 am to 3:30 in middle school and high school with an hour for lunch.
In many schools one period is “study hall” where students study, read, or do homework quietly for the hour. If students have high grades they may be able to attend special study halls where they can relax, socialize, and play games for the hour.
LUNCH HOUR (~10am-12pm)
In elementary and middle school children are not allowed to leave school grounds during lunch.
2 lunch options: Hot Lunch-students eat the food provided at the school cafeteria (usually 2 or 3 dollars a day) or Cold Lunch (students bring food from home)
Some high schools do allow the students to leave during the lunch hour while others do not.

8. American School Staples:
1. The yellow school bus
3. Mascots:
2. Lockers
4. Water Fountains
5. Sports
6. The Yearbook
American students usually ride yellow buses to and from school. Students can also walk to school or have their parents drive them and students over 16 can drive to school
In almost every school there are lockers for students to put their backpacks and coats in during classes. Students are assigned a new locker every year and must remember the combination to open it.
Every school has its own mascot which range from animals, to objects, to kinds of people.
School dances are very common in the United States. In high school the two biggest are:
American students have many choices of sports to play. Most schools have teams for basketball, football, baseball, and track and field, but not always soccer or hockey. Cheerleaders attend all of the football and basketball games to animate the audience.
7. Dances
Homecoming: football game, parade, and dance that take place at the beginning of the school year
Prom is the major dance at the end of the school year for seniors, and students vote for each other to be Prom Queen and King.

9. Grades
Students receive a report card after every school quarter with their grades in each subject.
Grades are in percents (out of 100) and range from A (excellent) to F (failing).  A student who fails a required course must repeat the course.
Occasionally a student must repeat an entire grade because of prolonged absence or low marks, although this is rare and many times students are instead required to attend “summer school” to pass the failed courses.
Cumulative grades in all the student's courses form a "G.P.A." (grade point average) which is important for admission into college and scholarship applications. (4.0 is the highest possible G.P.A.)

10. Discipline
Every school has a Principal and Vice Principal and one or more Guidance Counselors.
High schools also have a special police officer called a “Liaison Officer” who deals with any students that break the law.
Skipping class
Truancy/being a truant
-What happens if you skip a class?
Students may be punished for things such as disrupting class, not doing homework, and “skipping” (not going to a class). Once a student skips a certain number of classes he or she becomes a “truant” and a meeting with the students parents will be held. In many cases truancy may result in not being able to graduate until the time lost is made up through detention, fines, or summer school.
Punishments begin with scolding and letters or calls to parents and then “detention” where a student must come early or stay late at school and sit silently in a room with a teacher.
If a student is causing more serious problems he or she may be “suspended” (not allowed to come to school for a number of days)
The most serious problems may result in a student being “expelled” (permanently removed from a school and banned from any schools in the school district.)
Detention
Suspension/being suspended
Expulsion/being expelled

11. Options After High School…
The words college and university are nearly interchangeable in the United States and you will almost always hear Americans talk about “going to” or “being in” college rather than the UK where people say “go to” or “be at” university.
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
Technical College
Learn skills for a specific labor such as computers, automotive, welding, culinary arts etc…
Community/2-year Colleges (Associate’s Degree)
Smaller, do not provide housing
Often guarantee transfer after 2 years to a 4-year university
to complete the last 2 years and earn a Bachelor’s degree (4-year degree)
MUCH lower tuition cost, easier admission
4-year College (Bachelor’s Degree)
Most programs are four years long
Choice of study is called a Major “What is your major?” “What are you majoring in?”
May also study a Minor
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
The difference between a college and a university is that a college just offers a collection of degrees in one specific area while a university is a collection of colleges. When you go to a university you are going to be graduating from one of their colleges, such as the business college.
Master’s
1-2 more years of school and a Master’s Thesis required
Doctorate (PhD)
At least 1-2 more years and a doctoral dissertation.
Less classes and more research/investigation

12. Public vs. Private University
State (Public) Universities
Lower tuition and easier admission than private universities
Usually larger which means more students per class, especially during the first 2 years of general subjects
Private Universities (i.e. Harvard, Yale, Princeton)
Up to 10 times more expensive than public university and much harder to get in to
Smaller, usually fewer students, and therefore less students per class and more personalized experience

13. Tuition Grants and Scholarships Student Loans
Grants are usually from the government or corporations and are not only given to students. They tend to be more need-based, first generation college students, poor families, single parent families etc.
Scholarships are usually harder to get (more competitive) and are specifically for students to further their education. Not need-based.
The vast majority of students pay for college by taking out student loans and working a lot. Average debt of college graduates in 2012 was 27,000 dollars.
Grants and Scholarships
Student Loans

14. College Life DORMS KEG PARTIES STUDY ABROAD BEER PONG SPORTS GAMES
Many universities require freshmen and sophomores that do not live nearby to live in dormitories (“dorms”)

15. And hopefully…..