Contemporary Issues in Education

Across the country education is a hot topic.  Daily newspapers regularly carry education-related articles, politicians always voice opinions on public schools, and members of the the public are often asked for their views on every topic from school funding in their states to the quallity of their neighborhoods schools. 

For those who wish to go beyond the surface, to become better informed on current trends and issues in education, this section contains links to information on this site as well as other sites around the country.

Topics included at this time are:  education funding; external school system ratings; graduation requirement trends around the country; efforts to create K-16 educational systems; and educational equity issues.

Follow these links to learn more:

Washington State PTA's analysis of school funding

Primer on School Finance

Education Trust: The Funding Gap

Standard and Poor's school rating system

Achieve and the American Diploma Project

College prep as the default curriculum (also refers to above average high school graduation requirements in math and science) 

Texas State Graduation Requirements

Education Trust: Thinking K-16

Alabama Education: Quick Facts

Sacbee.com: Stricter grad rules urged

Eliminating the Achievement Gap

Eductation Trust

OSPI: Achievement Gap

ETS: Closing in on the Achievement Gap

Public Opinion Research

ETS: Ready For the Real World?

Relation Between High School Courses and College Success

US Department of Education: Answers in the Tool Box - Executive Summaryl