9781422274040

EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Each year, about 56.6 million children attend elementary and secondary schools in the United States. Most of these students attend public schools, though options like private school, charter school, and homeschool are available. About 3.6 million of these students will graduate from high school at the end of the current school year. In addition, more than 20 million students attend either a two-year or four- year college or institution of higher education. Attending school is compulsory for children in the United States, though each state establishes its own laws regarding curriculum and learning standards, truancy and absenteeism, and homeschooling. The conflict between national oversight and state rule is an ongoing issue in America’s schools. For example, does the federal govern- ment have the right to issue a standardized curriculum for all public schools? Do states have the right to localize standardized testing? Moral and legal issues arise even in discussions of public education. The United States has more than 13,600 school districts encompassing more than 98,000 schools, including charter schools. Additionally, the country boasts more than 34,000

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