"A convenient, information-rich source for anyone interested in schooling." – Library Journal
This title gives readers a clear understanding of the true state of public and private education systems in the USA by refuting falsehoods, misunderstandings, and exaggerations – and confirming the validity of other assertions.
Issues covered include categories of public and private schools and variations in academic performance and socioeconomic status therein; controversies surrounding school choice, including school vouchers and charter schools; accountability and assessment of private and public schools; debates about school environment, safety, and curricula; and teacher and administrator quality. All of these issues are examined in individualized entries, with objective responses grounded in evidence.
This title gives readers a clear understanding of the true state of public and private education systems in the USA by refuting falsehoods, misunderstandings, and exaggerations – and confirming the validity of other assertions.
Arvustused
A convenient, information-rich source for anyone interested in schooling; if it counters misperceptions about public schools, inspires policy, or even merely spurs research, it will have been a worthwhile acquisition. * Library Journal * Recommended. General readers through graduate students; professionals. * Choice * If you are looking for a book to provide detailed research and findings that can help inform policy decisions, this book fits that purpose. * The School Administrator *
Muu info
This title gives readers a clear understanding of the true state of public and private education systems in the USA by refuting falsehoods, misunderstandings, and exaggerations and confirming the validity of other assertions.
How to Use This Book
Introduction
1. Private vs. Public Schools
Q1. Do students in private schools outperform students enrolled in public
schools?
Q2. Are political conservatives and corporations the biggest supporters of
privatization of the American K12 school system?
Q3. Do private schools accept students with disabilities?
Q4. Are public and private school teachers similar in their educational and
socioeconomic backgrounds?
2. School Choice: Competition, Stratification, Homeschooling, and Vouchers
Q5. Do market-based reforms such as school choice increase competition and
improve school performance?
Q6. Do school choice programs contribute to the resegregation of American
schools?
Q7. Does homeschooling lead to better outcomes for students than traditional
public schools?
Q8. Do school vouchers produce better student outcomes?
Q9. Do education tax credits and education savings accounts divert money from
public to private schools?
3. School Choice: Charter Schools
Q10. Do charter schools have significant variations in structure, operations,
and performance from school to school?
Q11. Are charter schools actually public schools?
Q12. Are charter schools more innovative than traditional public schools?
Q13. Do charter schools perform better than traditional public schools?
Q14. Are poorly performing charter schools closed down?
Q15. Are most publicly funded charter schools operated by Education
Management Organizations and Charter Management Organizations?
4. Standards, Accountability, and Assessment
Q16. Have standards-based reforms worked to improve the academic performance
of American schoolchildren?
Q17. Are the Common Core State Standards a national initiativeand if so, do
they amount to a national curriculum?
Q18. Has time that students spend preparing for and taking standardized tests
increased dramatically in U.s. public schools?
Q19. Has high-stakes testing improved schools?
Q20. Is it difficult for public schools to fire bad teachers?
Q21. Do assessment systems exist that can accurately capture the value-added
impact of teachers on their students' test scores?
Q22. Is the United States lagging behind other nations in K12 education?
Q23. How are the political interests that shape education policy organized?
5. Teaching and Learning
Q24. Do later school start times make a difference in children's learning?
Q25. Is bilingual education effective?
Q26. Does homework increase student achievement?
6. School Environment
Q27. Are students disciplined disproportionately by race and gender?
Q28. Are small schools better than large schools in providing a quality
education to students?
Q29. Are American schools less safe now than in the past?
Q30. Are public and private schools still racially and economically
segregated?
Q31. Do today's full-time virtual schools offer a high-quality education for
students?
Q32. Do students learn more in smaller classes?
Index
Casey D. Cobb is Raymond Neag Professor of Educational Policy at the University of Connecticut, USA. Cobb is coauthor of Fundamentals of Statistical Reasoning in Education and Leading Dynamic Schools.
Gene V. Glass is an American statistician and researcher working in educational psychology and the social sciences.
