Common National Student Expectations from an International Point of View

The Case for National Standards in American Education Rudy Crew, Paul Vallas, and Michael Casserly Crew, Vallas, and Casserly have written commentary on amending current standards that encourage high expectations in some communities while discouraging those expectations in others. Resolving this issue of equity, they argue, can be done via a set of common national standards. Standards-Based Framework in a Decentralized System from the Center for American Progress Elena Rocha and Cynthia G. Brown The Center for American Progress released this article in an attempt to foster a deeper understanding and commitment to national standards. They posit that the currently ineffective model of standardized schooling is due to inequities at the state level. To move forward in resolving differences amongst the varied state curricula, they argue for a voluntary, rigorous national standard. Incentives, Not National Control James A. Peyser This article offers an alternative to national standard-setting. Peyser is wary of the government control that would result from federally mandated national standards. Instead, he proposes a more incremental approach that creates greater rigor within current state-based systems. His proposition of offering incentives provides flexibility for states to achieve excellent educational output in a way that supports state choice. A New New Federalism Michael J. Petrilli and Chester E. Finn Jr. Finn and Petrilli assess federal and state roles under the No Child Left Behind Act. They argue that states are responding to NCLB requirements by lowering standards to shield schools from accountability. They offer an alternative which supports state management of schools and federal responsibility for outlining achievement expectations.

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document last updated 10/30/2007