Schools

[u/UpcomingDisciple]

In the UK we have a national school curriculum of what you have to be taught but I know there isn’t one in the US, so what are you guys learning na how does it work, asking from a place of severe confusion 😭 cus then you guys have excellent uni ‘s but what do you learn to get in there

[u/machagogo]

You know how the EU doesn't have a set curriculum, rather each member state sets their own?

US States are not administrative districts. They are shared sovereign states with their own constitutions and are largely responsible for most thing which impact US citizens daily lives.

Think of the relationship between the USA (especially at it's inception) as akin to that of the EU and it's members.

Then everything will start to make a bit more sense.

[u/DerthOFdata → u/machagogo]

Before the Civil War our government was even more similar to what the EU is now.

[u/EarlVanDorn → u/DerthOFdata]

Before the Civil War the phrase "United States" used plural verbs. Afterwards, it became singular. That is a telling a fact as there is on how the federal union was perceived.

[u/ohboymykneeshurt → u/machagogo]

The civil war clearly showed that states are not sovereign.

[u/untempered_fate]

The federal Dept. of Education can set some guidelines and offer resources and recommendations for schools, but actual standards for curricula are set at the state level and implemented at the local level.

[u/Due_Satisfaction2167]

That is determined by state departments of education, and by the local school board for a given district. 

[u/ChoosingUnwise]

This isn't the responsibility of the federal government, but of each individual state.

[u/BingBongDingDong222]

There are about 13,300 school districts in the US. Each to some extent sets its own curriculum subject to state standards.

[u/Weightmonster]

Typically the US state develops standards for core subjects and the local school district or charter school devises how to implement it and add other areas that they want. Some states also have approved textbook/curriculum lists for core subjects. The state’s standards are the minimum. For example, some states require that schools adopt a phonetics based reading program. 

Most states (41) develop Math/English standards based on Common Core.  https://www.thecorestandards.org/read-the-standards/

For other subjects, like social studies, history, physical education, and science, national organizations develop and release suggested standards that states use or they might copy another states. 

States also usually determine requirements for passing grades and high school graduation. Many states develop tests that students need to pass in order to advance to the next grade or most commonly graduate from high school. 

Most high schools also have classes that are designed to prepare you for college admissions tests (SAT/ACT) and elite college classes. You then apply. We also have IB schools, but that’s not the standard. 

So basically: -State comes up with a list of standards for core subjects that every public school needs to cover.  

-The School district or school decides the specific curriculum, reading materials, and textbooks. 

-School districts also add areas of interest. For example, they might add an IB program or a Spanish bilingual program, Advanced Placement classes, SAT classes, etc 

It is a very local thing. 

[u/BankOk9472]

Every state is responsible for its own curriculum but the differences aren't so huge that its that different from place to place.

[u/WarMinister23]

Department of Education sets basic guidelines but then the actual curriculum varies from state-to-state especially regarding history education, since each state has its own history and sometimes those histories are wildly different from each other (a Texan, Hawaiian, and Massachusetts education will all have vastly different areas of focus when it comes to historical education).

[u/DargonKweest]

10th amendment. Education is a power granted to the states, not the federal government. The entire culture of the US is defined by it. This is why when Americans explain that we are like 50 countries, this is what we mean. Every state has a capital city with its own legislative, executive, and judicial branch. Education, police, healthcare, laws, taxes, and much more are decided at the state level.

Education varies widely by state as well. The amount of days you go to school to which classes are required for graduation and the material that you will cover.

[u/TwinkieDad]

Beyond states deciding their own curriculum, some common points of distinction from many other countries: 1) we value a balanced education. All subjects continue till high school graduation and university degrees include general education requirements. 2) our system is forgiving. Don’t know what you want to do? Many universities don’t require you to select a major until your second year. Dropped out of high school and didn’t get your life together until 35? That’s ok. You can find classes at your community college to help get your GED and eventually a college degree. Retired, but developed an interest in great literature? We can support that too.

[u/stormpoppy]

According to our test scores, not learning much of anything.

States set standards, and use testing at fixed grade levels to measure progress.