The news is rampant with all things education. Today’s politicians are throwing education into every political debate; questioning whether the government should even have a Department of Education. The education system may be in for an overhaul; from loans, to teachers, to jobs-training programs, you can’t read the news without something education related showing up.
Back in 2001, the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act was implemented. NCLB established standards for the public education system, so that no child was left out on getting the education they needed. All schools were to adhere to curriculum and testing standards. Their federal funding received, would in part be based on the NCLB metrics. Part of NCLB also laid out requirements for yearly progress reporting wherein all students had to show expected development in their understanding. If those standards weren’t met, kids had to have tutoring or so to summer school to keep up.
Literacy among college student has declined during the last decade, making educators question the effectiveness of testing required in the NCLB act. Educators wondered how can kids be getting through school with less than acceptable literacy and still have NCLB be called an effective program. Research also showed that 40% of the kids in 4-year college programs weren’t graduating. The drop-out factor is expensive. The American Institute tells us that the students starting, but not completing their education cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.
Because of the low testing and seemingly unpreparedness for college, charter schools sprung up. A charter school is a school funded by federal, state, and local funding. Charter schools follow their own curriculum. Research tells us that those in charter schools have been linked to higher achievement, more engaged students, higher levels of learning, and greater number of kids going on to college.
Many folks think that government has no business even handling the education of our children. And we hear this argument played out during every debate. Government involvement in education isn’t going away this election year. Part of the debate includes curriculum; objections over what laws say public schools may or may not do rankle some citizens. It’s these folks who are typically fans of home schooling.
The fight to retain teachers continues. Beginning with President Obama’s American Jobs Act introduced last September. Part of the Act pumps $30 billion dollars into the education system to renovate public schools and community colleges, and to keep thousands of teachers from termination, but the debate goes on as legislators argue the costs.
Education, economy, and politics has also taken center stage in unemployment. There is a surge in job-training programs connected to community colleges. These job-training programs address local industries needs for qualified workers that are in a shortage. News regarding new education and job-training programs will be in the news throughout the year, as legislators and educators work together to create job-training programs that will boost the economy and reduce unemployment. This year the focus is on education. Watch for changes in student loans, job-readiness programs, and forgiveness and restructure of student loan news.
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