Improving the American Education

System: A comparison between countries

By: Emelia Bouwman, Ohood

Almohanna, Alicia Poe, Lauren Henry &

Alison Sims

Graduation 2011 States

RatesAlabama

72%

Alaska

68%

Arizona

78%

Arkansas

81%

California

76%

Colorado

74%

Connecticut

83%

Delaware

78%

Florida

71%

Georgia

67%

States

RatesLouisiana

71%

Main

84%

Maryland

83%

Massachusetts

83%

Michigan

74%

Minnesota

77%

Mississippi

75%

Missouri

81%

Montana

82%

Nebraska

86%

States

RatesOhio

80%

Oklahoma

no data

Oregon

68%

Pennsylvania

83%

Rhode Island

77%

South Carolina

74%

South Dakota

83%

Tennessee

86%

Texas

86%

Utah

76%

Vermont

87%

Virginia 82%

Washington

76%

High School Dropout Rates in 2011

Historic High School Dropout Rates

Year Total White Black Hispanic

2013 7.9 5.0 9.1 15.9

2009 8.1 5.2 9.6 17.6

2005 9.4 6 10.4 22.4

2000 10.9 6.9 13.1 27.8

1995 12 8.6 12.1 30

1990 12.1 9 13.2 32.4

1985 12.6 10.4 15.2 27.6

1980 14.1 11.4 19.1 35.2

1975 13.9 11.4 22.9 29.2

1970 14.6 12.3 21.3 34.3

Teacher Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree

• Field experience (student teaching)

• Ability to pass the required assessments

Assessments

• Portfolio

• Standardized Testing

• Observation

• Essays

• Interviews

• Performance tasks

• Exhibitions and demonstrations

• Portfolios

• Journals

•

Higher Education

• Liberal Arts Colleges

• Community colleges

• Private universities

• Public universities

ECE Programs

• Reggio Emilia

• Montessori

• High Scope

• Head Start

• Project approach

• Race to the top

Bad teachers?

Tenure protects teachers from losing their

jobs no matter what their teaching styles or

abilities. Unless the teacher quits or

commits a crime it is very very hard to fire

them.

Australia

Early Education

• Child Care Programs & Preschools

Primary School

• Six years old-Twelve years old

Secondary School

• Thirteen years old-Fifteen years old Graduation Rate: 73%

Types of School

Higher Education

Early Childhood Education

• Australia has many options for early

childhood care and has great goals for ECE

in it’s future.

• In 2008-2009 ECE was given a budget of

114.5 million.

• Headstart Example:o http://ifp.mychild.gov.au/ChildCareService/Provid

er.aspx/20835/

Teacher Qualifications

• Bachelor Degree {Four Years}

• Pre-Service Teacher Education {One Year}

• At least six weeks of student teaching

• Teachers are well respected in the

community

• Start at approximately 62,000 a year

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUH4uO

ydWZA

Assessment

GAT-General Achievement Test

• Covers Math, Reading & Language, Writing

ICAS-International Competitive Assessments

for Schools

• Competition done for fun

A brief summary of the Department of

Childhood Studies at universities in Saudi

Arabia

This major was established in 1980-1981 to meet the

requirements of the Saudi society for kindergarten

teachers to assist teachers to become teachers with

high efficiency. This major is an important major in

Childhood Studies in Saudi universities. Also, this major

is characterized by the diversity of the sub-specialties

that include early childhood, child psychology, child

education, child health, and care for children with

special needs.

Graduation rates: must be higher than 75 - 80%

to graduate.

Graduation age: about 19- 20 years old.

Higher Education:

- Private universities

- Public universities

ECE look like in Saudi Arabia:Early childhood: is the period experienced by the child

from 2 to 5 years.

Types of programs in Saudi Arabia:

- Software programs.

- Open programs.

- Programs based on the child.

Teacher Qualifications:

-Bachelors Degree.

-Ability to pass the required assessments while studying

at the university.

-School qualification.

-Physical qualifications.

-Emotional qualifications.

-Mental qualifications.

-Social qualification.

Type of assessments used in Saudi

Arabia for teachersAssessment will be through the principal of kindergarten

to evaluate the teacher by special forms are filled out

after the principal come to the class to observe the

performance.

In general, the performance of teachers includes her

way of teaching the children. Kindergartens in Saudi

Arabia are progress and constantly evolving. The

percentage of students graduating from the major early

childhood is increasing because it is one of the

disciplines required in our society.

What to do with teachers who don't perform

well in their jobs?

- First, if there are several observations or complaints

from children and their parents, administration must

talk to her to change her performance and work better.

- Secondly, if there is no change in the performance

parameter, we should make her move to another school

to see the evolution of her performance

- Finally, if there is no change in performance even after

moving to another school. the teacher will take a

warning and then be terminated from the work.

Britain

Early Childhood Education

• The main principles of traditional early childhood education in Britain are

child centered, in contrast to the traditional subject-centered and

teacher-directed approaches of secondary education.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe_B0BS7LBU

Primary Schools:

• Nursery School

• First year is called reception (same as our kindergarten) then

you go on to year 1, year 2 etc.

• Primary school also referred as Key Stage 1 (4-7 ) Key Stage

2 (7-11).

Secondary Schools

• Between the ages of 11-16 (Key Stage 3-age 14, Key

Stage 4-age 16)

• Towards the end of year 9, students select their own

courses

• Minimum leaving age is 16

• Many students remain at school age 16-18 (Sixth Form)

Higher Education

• Sixth Form

• Training or Technical College

• University System

Assessment

• Primary School-School reports are written once a year

• Parent Evenings

• At each Key Stage students are required to take the SAT’s

• At the 10th year students are required to take GCSE

Teacher Qualifications

• All candidates for teacher training need to have at least a grade C in

English and maths GCSE, or demonstrate that they have reached an

equivalent standard. If you want to teach primary you will also need a

grade C or equivalent in a science GCSE.

• Undergraduate programs

• School-Centered Initial Teacher Training

• School Direct

• Teach First

Finland

Education in FinlandHas 95% graduation rate in 2009 compared to a 75% of graduation rate of

upper secondary education (high school)

On the Programme of International Student Assessment they are have a

mean score 38 points higher in math, 26 points in reading and 48 points

in science than the United States

Most students are fluent in Finnish, Swedish and English

Schools aim to be very homey and have lounges areas

with fireplaces and students do not have to wear shoes

Early Childhood 1-3years

Most Finnish children 1-3 stay at home with

their parents

Parents can collect what is called “Home

care Allowance” which is 294 euros a month

Early Childhood Education Formal compulsory school does not start until age seven

Parents have the right to enroll their children in childcare

programs which are not free, but subsidized.

Six year olds have the right to attend free half day preschool

programs and over 97% do

The lead teacher must have a bachelors

degree and the other two must be licensed

practical nurses which is a vocational degree

equivalent to high school diploma with

specialized education in early education

Primary Education

Is a nine year programme and begins at age seven

Children are not given any test or exams at all for first

six years of education

Homework is also seen as not necessary and frowned

upon

Secondary EducationIs for students 16-19yrs

Prepare for abitur a final exit exam similar to SATs and

in turn further education

They apply to either a general upper secondary school or

a vocational school

General prepares them for higher educational

institutions while vocational prepares them for the

work force, but still allows them to study at a

university

Teacher Credentials

To teach in Finland in any compulsory school you must have a masters in

teaching with an undergraduate in literature, math or science

Programs are subsidized they are highly competitive, the University of

Helsinki reported 2,400 students competing for 120 slots, applicants are

pickled from top 10% of their class

A teaching degree is, just as difficult, or more difficult to get than a degree

in law or medicine and is thus seen with the same prestige

First year of employment is spent in a classroom with a mentor teacher

What do they do with “bad teachers”?

Since teacher must obtain their masters and

are picked from top 10% of students, and

the are given paid planning times it is hard

to find a bad teacher in Finland.

Bad teachers are given professional

development workshops

What else causes Finland's Education to be

so Successful?Finland has an incredibly low child poverty of 5% rate compared to 25% in

United States

Finland also has universal healthcare for all its residents

Teachers are paid to teach for four hours and then have a paid two hour

planning period

There is no tracking, they do not put what seem like more advanced students

in better programs and less advanced at lower track programs

They actually spend less on education per student than the US

Question

Where would you want to go to school and

why?