Policy Area: Curriculum

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Curriculum refers to a set of academic guidelines for students to be taught in each grade. Having a curriculum in place is at the core of all education programs to ensure that each student is learning the same material in a structured environment. A curriculum consists of different academic materials that need to be demonstrated that they are understood in order to move onto the next set stage of the curriculum. Standardized testing, experience, projects, exams as well as teacher approval will determine if a student passes a certain curriculum. The curriculum is often determined state-wide by a set of educational facilitators. A curriculum is often made up of specific subjects that include, but are not limited to mathematics, science, history, social studies, physical fitness and more.

Articles in: Curriculum

Middle School Curriculum

Middle School Curriculum
In the United States, many states have “middle schools”. Not all of the states have middle schools and some states still have “junior schools”; others have elementary schools that go up to grade 8 and then students start high school. Middle schools are phasing out junior schools but middle schools are still not widely accepted throughout the US. This middle school model is considered to be a fairly recent development in the education system as they only began to appear during the 1960s. Who is it for? Middle schools are for students who have attended primary school, prior to...
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Higher Education Curriculum

Higher Education Curriculum
Higher education refers to optional formalized learning following secondary school. It may also be referred to as post-secondary education or tertiary education. There are 4,599 institutions across the United States capable of granting degrees. These may include public and private universities, liberal arts colleges, and community colleges. Current issues pertaining to tertiary institutions include the high cost of tuition, courses offered online, and student debt. American universities are among the most prestigious and widely-recognized in the world, making them an esteemed destination for...
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Pre-School Curriculum

Pre-School Curriculum
Preschool, which may also be referred to as nursery school, daycare or kindergarten, is a type of educational establishment for very young children. Known as early childhood education, preschool is for children below the age of compulsory attendance at a primary school establishment. It is often the first educational establishment a child will attend. In the United States, preschools may be run by private organizations, businesses, and state or municipal governments. They are rarely subsidized, so the quality of education depends on the means available from the student’s family. In a preschool...
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Primary School Curriculum

Primary School Curriculum
In the United States, primary school refers to the first eight or nine years of formal, compulsory education for children. Primary school may also be referred to as elementary school. The first year of formal education is called kindergarten; most of the time, it begins around the age of five. Following kindergarten, students enter the first grade, followed by the second, third, fourth, and fifth. In general, fifth grade is considered the last year of primary education. Students graduating from fifth or sixth grade, who are usually between 10 and 12 years old, enter middle school. Most elementary...
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Secondary School Curriculum

Secondary School Curriculum
In the United States, secondary or high school refers to the last four years of formal, compulsory education. Most of the time, secondary school includes Grade Nine through to Grade Twelve. Students enter high school after middle school. However, depending on the region, students may attend a combined middle and secondary school. They may alternatively attend elementary school until eighth grade and then progress to secondary school until the twelve grade. In 2001, there were a total of 26,407 public secondary schools in the United States. There were 10,693 private secondary schools. Who is it for?...
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