Middle School Reform

Paper Summary:

This paper examines different programs that have been created to address the growing problem of American middle school students lagging far behind the students in other industrialized nations. According to the paper, this includes the creation of nationwide standards, the development of "thinking-based curricula" for low-income youth in urban areas and ensuring that teachers link lessons to real world issues.

Overview:
Piecemeal Reforms
National Standards
An Integrated Approach

From the Paper:

"One of the key features of the No Child Left Behind Act was to ensure that all students must show proficiency in math and reading by the 2013-2014 academic year. School districts must therefore show a yearly progress report towards this goal. This holds true especially for English as a second language students and those with learning disabilities. School districts that continuously fail to post higher test scores will face sanctions. Principals and teachers in such "underperforming" schools could be suspended, removed or replaced. The No Child Left Behind Act also makes provisions allowing the state government to take over underperforming middle schools. Additionally, federal funding could be withheld for underperforming schools ("US Department of Education" 2002)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Athanases, Steven. 2003. "Thematic study of literature: Middle school teachers, professional development, and educational reform." English Education. 35:2.
• Bndlow, Raymond. 2001. "The misdirection of middle school reform: Is a child-centered approach incompatible with achievement in math and science?" The Clearing House. 75:2.
• Finn, C. E. 1996. "Can the schools be saved?" Commentary of the American Jewish Council 9:41-45.
• National Education Association. 2000. "The Government Should Not Offer School Tuition Vouchers." Education. Mary E. Williams, Ed. Opposing Viewpoints(r) Series. Reproduced in Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale Group. 2004.
• US Department of Education. 2002. No child left behind. Retrieved July 14, 2006, from Ed.gov Web site: http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/index.html.

More papers on Middle School Reform:

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• Analytical Essay # 134682 : "The 'Elemiddle' Concept"

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