Education in America

Mr. Patten & Ms. Dennis Participation in Government

Education Promo Video

• What are your thoughts about the statistics displayed?

• Your job as President will be to fix these statistics and improve the American education system.

The Current State of American Education- Currently 81% of students in high school graduate in the United States (as of 2013)

- In New York – 76.4% in 2013- On Long Island – 87.6% in 2013- At Mepham – 93.4% in 2013

The Current State of American Education- Compared locally:

- Syosset – 99% (Highest on Long Island)- Calhoun – 94%- Kennedy – 95%- Garden City – 98.6%- MacArthur – 96%- Freeport – 72%- Hempstead – 38% (Lowest on Long Island)

- East Meadow – 97% - Roosevelt – 71%

Reasons for Dropping Out – - Attendance – missed too many days- Thought it would be easier for GED- Poor grades/failing- Low literacy- Did not like school- Could not keep up with work- Did not feel like they belonged- Suspensions/Expulsions- Changed schools and not happy at new one- Pregnant - Had to work to support family – financial

situation - Care for a family member in poor health

Solving the Drop Out Crisis…Your Task: -How do you keep kids in school?

-What programs do you offer to assist kids who are struggling?

Student Assessment

- In the United States there has been a push toward standardized testing as a way to assess student understanding and progress.

Pros of Standardized Testing

- Holds students and teachers accountable- Standardized testing gives teachers guidance to help them determine what to teach students and when to teach it.

- Standardized testing gives parents a good idea of how their children are doing as compared to students across the country and locally.

- Standardized testing allows students located in various schools, districts, and even states to be compared.

Pros of Standardized Testing

- Standardized testing is typically accompanied by a set of established standards or instructional framework which provide teachers with guidance for what and when something needs to be taught

- Standardized tests are objective in nature. - Standardized tests provide accurate comparisons between sub-groups. These sub-groups can include data on ethnicity, socioeconomic status, special needs, etc.

Cons of Standardized Testing- Standardized testing evaluates a student’s performance on one particular day and does not take into account external factors. There are many people who simply do not perform well on tests. Many of these students are smart and understand the content, but it doesn’t show on the test.

- Standardized testing causes many teachers to only “teach to the tests”.

Cons of Standardized Testing

- Standardized testing only evaluates the individual performance of the student instead of the overall growth of that student over the course of the year.

- Standardized testing can create a lot of stress on both educators and students.

Cons of Standardized Testing

- The success of the schools is dependent on the performance of their students. The federal funds are given only to those schools that perform well. This adds an extra pressure on public schools to constantly evaluate their performance.

Standardized Testing…

- Will your team support the implementation of more standardized testing? Yes or no? Why?

- If no, what alternative assessments can be incorporated to assess that students have learned? Explain.

What is Common Core?- The Common Core is a set of high-quality

academic standards in mathematics and English language arts/literacy (ELA).

- These learning goals outline what a student should know and be able to do at the end of each grade.

- The standards were created to ensure that all students graduate from high school with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in college, career, and life, regardless of where they live.

- Forty-two states, the District of Columbia, four territories, have voluntarily adopted and are moving forward with the Common Core.

Common Core Standards - Pros

- Standards are internationally benchmarked – compare favorably with other nations

- Each state had their own standards previously – this will allow states to compare data

- Increase the rigor in the classroom - Prepare students to be college and career

ready- Development of higher level thinking skills- Show how a student has learned - Benefit mobility – students in each state

learning the same thing

Common Core Standards - Pros

- Allow students to better understand what is expected of them

- Enhance teacher collaboration – teachers can share best practices with each other and apply

- Allow students to better understand what is expected of them

- Enhance teacher collaboration – teachers can share best practices with each other and apply

Common Core Standards - Cons- Difficult transition for teachers and students- Slow process without instant results- Increased stress amongst teachers and students

- Rigor and pace for younger students will increase tremendously – skills taught in 2nd grade will now be taught in Kindergarten

- Pre-K will become even more important- Standards are middle ground – some states will lower standards to meet

Common Core Standards - Cons

- Extremely expensive implementation – new textbooks and materials

- Schools will need up to date technology – many assessments will be completed online – issues with number of computers and cost

- Increased value on performance on standardized tests

- Standards associated with Math and ELA – nothing for science, social studies, etc. – left up to own states to determine

Common Core Standards- Do you believe the Common Core is necessary for America’s students to succeed today? Yes or No? Why? Explain.

Assessing TeachersEach state and school district has their own method for assessing their teachers.

You will have the opportunity to look at New York State’s method for assessment tomorrow.

Assessing TeachersBellmore-Merrick-Probationary Teachers – -3 formal/extended, 2 walk thru

- Observations by central administration, building administration and chairperson

- Weekly meetings with department chair - Submit lesson plans for feedback - Submit unit plans for feedback

- Unit plans for central office submission - Teachers go through 3 years of a probationary

period in New York

-Tenured teachers – 1 formal/extended, 1 walk thru

Assessing TeachersIn the past, prior to New York’s new evaluation system, tenured teachers in Bellmore-Merrick were offered the opportunity to lesson study

- Create and plan lesson/unit with another teacher(s)

- Observe each other teaching lessons- Make necessary changes to the

lessons- Observe again - Formal written report

Assessing TeachersBesides a system of observation and standardized tests, are the other methods for assessing teachers?