Abstract
This paper introduces and briefly defines the problem of falling academic proficiency amongst American public school and incoming college students; to wit, in mathematics and science and in areas like reading comprehension, students in America are falling behind students in other countries. This paper outlines the history of this development and why it is such a pressing concern right now. The paper then highlights the evidence that shows the critical nature of the situation and ends by offering three broad alternatives that should be examined with an eye towards seeing what will work best for the country. In the end, the paper asserts that an alternative called A-Plus, an alternative that gives local communities considerably more control over the purse-strings than they have under the NCLB, is the alternative that should be explored most of all. However, even this plan is not perfect and this paper suggests some modifications that will give American classrooms an advantage relative to their overseas competitors.

From the Paper
"This paper introduces and briefly defines the problem of falling academic proficiency amongst American public school and incoming college students; to wit, in mathematics and science and in areas like reading comprehension, students in America are falling behind students in other countries. This essay will outline the history of this development and why it is such a pressing concern right now. The paper will then highlight the evidence that shows the critical nature of the situation and will end by..."

Tags:policy, americans, things

Abstract
In the United States, the public school system is intended to provide comparable degrees of schooling for all students, regardless of the social or the economic backgrounds of the students. However, many sociologists that study the structure of the American public school system find that there is a direct correlation between the social and the economic status of the students in the public school system and the quality of the education provided. This correlation indicates that, while the public education system in the United States is supposed to provide identical educational standards for all students, that those students who are in areas with a higher standard of living will receive a better degree of education. This paper examines the correlation with the intention of demonstrating to the reader that the public education system in the United States provides discriminating education according to social and/or economic conditions for all students.

Abstract
In this research proposal, the writer notes that computer technology is becoming more widely used in American classrooms today as a means of supporting instruction in the K-12 classroom. The writer maintains that studies have shown that many K-12 teachers do not possess the requisite background and understanding of how these technologies can or should be used, with the result that even when computers are present in the classroom, they may not be used to their maximum effect. To help better understand the challenges and constraints facing K-12 teachers in general and teachers of special needs students in the New York City public schools in particular, this study provides a series of case studies and a critical review of the peer-reviewed and scholarly literature. The writer discusses whether computers can be used to supplement and improve education. The writer then examines the
advantages and disadvantages of using computers to supplement and improve education. Further, the writer discusses whether technology will promote or hamper students with learning disorders and special needs. The writer concludes that the focus of the research remains on identifying what techniques have been proven to work and determining what has not to develop a best practices approach to using computers to help special needs students achieve improved academic outcomes.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Significance of Study
Rationale of the Study
Research Questions
Preliminary Review of Related Literature
Methodology

From the Paper
"While the use of computers in American society in general and in the public schools in particular has increased in recent years, many of these resources remained underutilized or used inappropriately. For example, researchers have determined that just 25 percent of secondary English teachers, 17 percent of science teachers, 13 percent of social studies teachers, and just 11 percent of math teachers make weekly use of computers in their classrooms. Moreover, even in those instances where computers are used routinely in the classroom, they are not used as the type of tool that can help students better understand sophisticated concepts or visualize concepts in a new ways; instead, the majority of teachers and students currently use technology and more specifically drill-and-practice tools and application software, to automate previous instructional practices."

Tags:technology, instruction, students, teachers

Abstract
This paper explores various policy papers, which define public school policy ranging from illumination of the classroom to environmentally sensitive cleaning and maintenance to funding recommendations. The author points out that a systematic difference was found between the federal and the non-federal systems in policy performance including little indication that federal systems either equalize or redistribute the aggregate resources of society. The paper relates that the goals of the governor's 'Campaign for Fiscal Equity' are (1) a multi-year, massive infusion of school funding, (2) the creation of a clear cut system of accountability to drive funds to key educational strategies and (3) a fair and simple foundation formula to distribute school aid based on student need not politics.

Table of Contents
Objective
Introduction
BEST (Building Educational Success Together)
State of Affairs in New York State Schools
Inequality in Quality of Classroom Provision
Policy Adoption Recommendations of the Three Agencies
Fiscal Policy Recommendations
Policy Recommendations Comparison
New York State Board of Regents
The Atlantic Philanthropies, The Ford Foundation, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and The American Institute for Research (A.I.R) and Management Analysis and Planning (MAP)
New York State Commission on Education Reform
Impact of Federalism on Policy-Making Process
Recent Policy Enactment

From the Paper
"Policy issues in New York State Schools are inclusive of use of chemical and pesticides in school and recently Education Law 409-I has been enacted which establishes the department as being responsible to report "on the status of utilizing environmentally sensitive cleaning and maintenance (green ) products in all public and nonpublic schools by June 1, 2007." Policy such as this is shaped by the stated needs of certain socio-political view and in one such case the need for facility alignment for quality education is upheld by educators."

Tags:performance, environment, litigation, federal, foundation-based'

Abstract
This paper presents a detailed exploration of the educational voucher system in Milwaukee. The writer discusses the state of American public education and the history and premise of a education voucher system. The writer then delves into the system that Milwaukee has been using for over a decade. The discussion includes history, benefits and negatives and financial aspects of such a program. The paper ends with a discussion on the future of the voucher system.

From the Paper
"The idea of a voucher system is more than two decades old but it was not put into practice for years. When it finally did become a real possibility there were many things that had to be decided before it could be tried. Wisconsin took the first step and became the first state in the nation to implement a school voucher system. Approximately 12 years ago Milwaukee, Wisconsin became the pioneer of the school voucher system. In the years leading to the experiment the school system had been lambasted by parents about the perceived lack of education being provided to the students that it served . For many years parents and teachers worked together to improve the system through the use of curriculum changes, teaching style changes and funding requests. Regardless of the changes and efforts that were made there was still a faction of parents who felt the system lacked what their students needed to prepare for their secondary education as well as their adult lives. It was of this discontent that the nation's first school voucher system was born."

Tags:education, poverty, welfare, assistance, state, financial, cost, immigration, children, aid

Abstract
The paper focuses on David C. Berliner's and Bruce J. Biddle's counterattack on the widespread criticism launched at American public schools. The paper describes how Berliner and Biddle systematically address issues of concern to public school critics, including standardized test scores, violence in schools and literacy and how they react to some of the propositions for public school reform, most notably the voucher system. The paper quotes the authors' opinion that the real problems with American public schools mirror the problems endemic in the United States such as poverty, prejudice, inequality and wrongly allocated funds.

From the Paper
"David C. Berliner and Bruce J. Biddle counterattack the widespread criticism launched at American public schools in "The Manufactured Crisis: Myths, Fraud, and the Attack on America's Public Schools." The book is well-researched and scholastic in scope even if the authors' tone is sometimes scathing. Their resentment and frustration is directed at a range of targets including special interest groups, political parties, individual politicians, and the media. Berliner and Biddle systematically address issues of concern to public school critics, including standardized test scores, violence in schools, literacy, and the job market. Moreover, the authors react to some of the propositions for public school reform, most notably the voucher system. Berliner and Biddle's critique is thorough, well-documented and well-composed and therefore The Manufactured Crisis emerges as one of the most important books of its kind."

Tags:reform, vouchers, education

Abstract
This paper looks at the history of the privatization of public elementary and secondary schools in the US and the current state of affairs. It describes the American school system, which varies from state to state, district to district.

From the Paper
"The school system in the states in America is run as if it were school systems in different countries with no uniformity from one district to another or one state to another. (Brown) Those in rich areas receive a much high standard of education than those in poor areas and the choice of education allows parents to move their children to schools they consider suitable. For instance, despite Brown of there is not full integration of schools and following Brown, many whites moved their children to different schools..."

Tags:public school privatization, vouchers, funding

Abstract
This paper looks at how "Tongue-Tied: The Lives of Multilingual Children in Public Schools" addresses the different injustices suffered by multilingual children in the American school system. The paper explains the main implication of the work that the current method of incorporating ESL students into the school community renders them tongue-tied in their native language and/or culture, and does not enable these students to truly realize their academic and personal potential. The paper highlights the main message that America is a nation founded upon individualism, not assimilation, and creating an individualized and pluralistic approach is more effective for the school system and the students' education.

From the Paper
"One of the more interesting features of this work is the fact that it does not present its argument in the form of a singular or even multiple essays, but instead uses personal essays as well as data-based research to substantiate its claims. This is to break down conventional means of chronicling academic performance, and to illustrate the emotional costs of forcing children to choose between English and their home language and culture. The diverse personal narratives chronicle the often painful experiences of bilingual or bi and multicultural children within a system that does not understand their needs. Both essays and academic sources compiled within the text show how the process of language acquisition is never culturally neutral. Rather, the system's implied need for children to acquire a new language is often rooted in colonial or post-colonial motivations, and there is an assumption that English is not simply necessary, but is superior to that of the child's home language. Thus the act of speaking English becomes a way for the state to forcibly sever the child's connection to his or her home."

Tags:bilingual, education, NCLBA, culture, assimilation

Abstract
Based upon the PBS Special "School: The Story of American Public Education," this paper takes a close look at how schools were formed. From Noah Webster wanting to change textbooks to erase much of the English teachings and make them more "American" to the advances in civil rights and the signing of Title IX, this paper gives an overview of how major changes helped to shape the mission statements of all public schools.

From the Paper
"Schools were considered extremely important prior to and just after the war for American independence ended. As a way of helping to meld the thirteen colonies into a united, independent nation, Noah Webster emphasized the need to remove British texts from the few schools that were currently serving the more privileged and ensure that American students would be taught American ideals."

Tags:board, brown, horace, mann, common, anti-Protestant, segregation

Abstract
This paper discusses the problems that are rampant in the current educational system in the United States. The paper explores the apparent lack of equality in the American public schools system and claims that there does not seem to be a shift towards the ideal of equality. The paper contends that the difficulties facing the school system are not only in the didactic or democratic sphere, but also significantly in the financial realm. The paper explains that many of the problematic issues are due to a lack of adequate funding.

From the Paper
"As the old adage goes, the strongest chain is only as strong as its weakest link. If this saying is true, then serious questions arise about the reasons for the disregard of America's poorest and most vulnerable citizens, specifically in respect to education. Inequalities exist in the United States public school system so grossly obvious that it should make any observer question the democracy in which we live. One of the definitions for democracy is "the principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community," yet the democracy here in the United States shows little educational equality and little respect for the people on the poorest end of the socioeconomic ladder. Equality in education does not exist in America at the present time, nor does there appear to be a shift towards that ideal. Poor cities, towns, and districts have under funded school systems when, in many cases, these areas contain the neediest students. "

Tags:school, nclb, funding, equality