National Curriculum By: Eric Knight, Andy Skunberg Alex Langner, Jason Aberson

National Curriculum Essential Questions How does a national curriculum effect test scores? Culturally would a national curriculum work for the United States? Other than test scores, how do other countries assess their curriculum? Is the United States to diverse to have a national curriculum?

What is National Curriculum? The National Curriculum is a framework used by all maintained schools to ensure that teaching and learning is balanced and consistent.

What is National Curriculum? It sets out: the subjects taught the knowledge, skills and understanding required in each subject standards or attainment targets in each subject - teachers can use these to measure your child's progress and plan the next steps in their learning how your child's progress is assessed and reported

What is National Curriculum? Within the framework of the National Curriculum, schools are free to plan and organize teaching and learning in the way that best meets the needs of their pupils (in the UK) Many schools use the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) Schemes of Work to plan their curriculum. These help to translate the National Curriculum’s objectives into teaching and learning activities.

Countries with National Curriculum England (first to introduce the Curriculum 1988) Wales Northern Ireland Jordan Singapore China New Zealand France Hungary

Countries with National Curriculum Italy, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands Norway Portugal Most states in the U.S. follow common guidelines for a core curriculum, although there is no national curriculum as such.

Advantages of a National Curriculum Establishes a Unified Educational Front  Gets all states on the same page Allow state by state comparison  All standards would be the same Certification for teaching standards  State qualifications be the same across the board Could see where strengths/weakness areas are  Certain disciplines in certain areas of the country

Advantages of a National Curriculum Post-Secondary Consistency  A way to assess outside of the ACT, SAT, Etc.  Other than Standardized tests Regulations could be the same  Special Ed  Pacing of Students Students who move interstate benefit  Broken homes allow student to not be left behind with a move

Disadvantages of a National Curriculum Disagreement between lawmakers  Who decides what is important/ what is not important Other aspects of education need to become uniform  Starting date, days of school, salaries Availability of educators  Some need more training to cover topics wanted to cover in certain areas  Not available in rural areas Inclusion of other types of schools  Private, charter, home schooled.

Disadvantages of a National Curriculum Hidden Curriculums differ  State by state things in between curriculum lines differ Federal Government power  Allows the feds not the state where their funding should go  Too much power to people that are not involved with the area Different Cultures make up United States  Different cultures value different aspects of education

Why doesn’t every Country have a National Curriculum Questions about learning targets and which are most important Decision on what is most important to least important Size of US is a factor because of the control that local authorities feel they need A fear of breaking educational practice traditions England began in 1988 Countries have changed in recent years

How Countries Measure Curriculum CountryGradesPurpose United States5,8,11National and State feedback Korea4,5,6,7,8,10System-level feedback Singapore6,10,12Selection into classes/University Canada4,7,10System/School level feedback Hungary4,6,8,10,12Individual feedback Morocco6,9,10,11,12System and level feedback Tunisia4,6,9,13May lead to redistribution of teachers Turkey5,8,11System and school level feeback

How a National Curriculum Effects Test Scores CountryType of Curriculum Mean Score United StatesRegional and Local500 JapanNational550 FinlandNational538 CanadaRegional529 AustraliaRegional and Local528 ItalyNational478 Russian FederationNational460

Would a National Curriculum Work in the U.S. America has a long tradition of local control of schools Would Americans wonder if it would be educationally enhancing? Would experiences of students in the schools be enriched? Would we better serve students that are “at risk”?

Sources: Abramson, Larry (2007, January 1). Conversation calls for National Education Curriculum. Retrieved May 2, 2007, from National Curriculum Web site: Give us freedom to teach Madeleine Brettingham. The Times Educational Supplement. London:Nov 17, Iss. 4712, p. 1 (2003, October 3). Education in UK. Retrieved May 2, 2007, from Education in the UK System Web site: Henning, John E. Education. Chula Vista:Summer Vol. 126, Iss. 4, p (9 pp.) Kamotsu, Shigehisa (1999, November 22). International Education Journal. Retrieved May 2, 2007, from Japanese Education Web site: National curriculum could dent education standards: Iemma AAP General News Wire. Sydney:Oct 6, p. 1 Rationing Education In an Era of Accountability Jennifer Booher-Jennings. Phi Delta Kappan. Bloomington:Jun Vol. 87, Iss. 10, p (6 pp.)