1111111 school & society: chapter 14 contemporary school reform: the post-cold war era chapter...

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School & Society: Chapter 14

Contemporary School Reform: The Post-Cold War Era

Chapter Fourteen

Contemporary School Reform: The Post--Cold War Era

(c) 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.Tozer/Senese/Violas, School and Society, 5e

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School Reform in the 1980s and 1990s • America 2000 and Goals 2000• Reform as a “first wave” (national consensus on

reforms) and “second wave” (implementation at the local level)

• Alternative framework: reform in response to social and economic changes (as with earlier reforms) in 1980sDecline of manufacturing; rise of technologyDecline in ability to compete in world marketsDecline in academic skills of students


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Four Major Themes of Reform

1. Academic-achievement definition of “educational excellence”

• Core subjects• Standards, homework, time on task• Standardized assessment• Accountability


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2. Tension between concerns for “excellence” and concerns for diversity and equity• Common content and standardized assessment

seen as problematic for disadvantaged students• While a consensus of cultural values is still

missing, so is a commitment to a multicultural perspective


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3. Choice in schooling• Parent and student “vote with their feet”• Voucher system

4. Restructuring school governance and process and teaching profession

• Increased roles for teachers and citizens


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What Is Restructuring?• Tyack’s “magic incantation”• Decision making in schools and districts

Chicago’s Local School Councils

• Reshaping the teaching profession and entry into itNational Reports; National Teaching Board

• Alter the aims and content of teaching and learningCoalition for Essential Schools


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The Results of Early Reform Efforts• Many states increased academic requirements for students;

more emphasis on math, science, foreign language

• Many states increased certification requirements and salaries for teachers

• “Excellence” tended to command more attention than equity

• Second wave of reforms slower and more erratic

• Local control increase chances of success

• Concerns about maintaining focus on higher order thinking skills for students and teachers


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Contemporary School Reform: A Critical View

• Did poor schools prompt a faltering economy in the 1970s and 1980s?

• Was it necessary to shore up our educational system to produce an internationally competitive work force?

• Was a coalition between state and local governments and business the answer?


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Contemporary School Reform: A Critical View

• Capitalism’s loyalty to free markets rather than public good set the stage for problems

• “Learning to learn” skills; highly educated people not necessary or wanted

• Economic rebound in 1990s not credited to schools

• Increasing visible collaboration between business and education continues


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Current Concerns About School Reform

• Where are teachers’ voices?Teachers hear rhetoric, see little backingGenerally not asked for their opinions

• Whose needs are being met?Are we supporting recruitment and retention of

qualified teachers?Are we addressing the underlying social issues

that block learning?(c) 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.Tozer/Senese/Violas, School and Society, 5e

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For School Reform to Succeed, We Need…

• Strong leadership• Goals and shared vision• Patience, courage, and time• Training• Flexibility for multiple solutions• Willingness to redesign infrastructure• Effective management of resources• Ongoing self-assessment


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Continuing Initiatives

• Sensible use of computer technology

• Community and parent involvement in schools

• School-to-work

• School choice, vouchers, and charters

• Standards-based professional preparation and development of teachers


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Concluding Remarks• America’s lasting faith in the ability of schools to

address and solve social problems leads to questions:Who decides what the problems are and how to solve

them?Too many social concerns, not enough educational?What restructuring strategies are best suited to meeting

goals?What gets in the way of confronting the social and

educational problems that are obstacles to teaching and learning?


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Developing Your Professional Vocabulary

• A Nation at Risk

• America 2000: An Education Strategy

• charter schools

• “educational excellence”

• Goals 2000: Educate America Act

• school choice

• school restructuring

• standardized achievement testing for accountability

• standards-based teacher education

• teacher education in school reform movement

• voucher system for schools


1111111 school & society: chapter 14 contemporary school reform: the post-cold war era chapter...

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