Archived: The Educational System in the United States: Case Study Findings

Organization of the Volume
National Standards
This chapter explores the issue of standards for students’ academic performance
in the United States. Recent national-level initiatives are reviewed, and perceptions
and attitudes of teacher and parents are described. Similarly, state and local initia-
tives are profiled. The chapter also describes curriculum development and imple-
mentation, assessment issues, and the factors that influence academic achieve-
ment, including the learning environment and parental expectations and involve-
ment. Implications of academic standards for the transition after high school are
also discussed.

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Individual Differences
The second chapter focuses on individual differences in academic achievement,
how they are perceived within the United States, and how the schools address
them. Practices in ability grouping and tracking are described, along with the im-
plications for gender equity in math and science, and the impact of these prac-
tices for various racial and ethnic groups. The chapter also provides information
on the education of those who are learning disabled, severely handicapped, and
those considered gifted.
The Role of School in Adolescents’ Lives
This chapter focuses on the role that school plays in the lives of adolescents in
the United States This begins with a section on how adolescents use their time,
with descriptions of the school day, extracurricular and after-school activities,
homework, time with family, leisure, social lives, and employment. Students were
also interviewed about their perceptions of schooling and education. The chapter
includes broader issues of adolescent concerns, such as academic pressure, rela-
tionships, safety issues, drug use, sexuality, and family problems. The multiple in-
fluences on adolescents’ lives are explored, as is the transition to adulthood and
students’ views of the future.