ERIC Number: EJ943141
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1946-2077
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Quality (and/or?) Control: Perils and Promises of Standards-Based School Reform in Urban Contexts
Seidel, Kent; Meyer, Helen
Journal of Urban Learning, Teaching, and Research, v2 p68-88 2006
This article looks at the perils and promises of standards-based instruction in urban environments. We begin with an outline of the rise of the current standards movement. Then turn to the con position which contends; states, schools and districts do not always implement standards-based ideals effectively, especially in urban settings where resources and educators prepared to teach well with standards are scarce. Standards can lead to standardization of curriculum and instruction, sacrificing student interest, real-world connections, and creativity and critical thinking. The pro position reports that research and evaluation has shown that standards can support better communication between schools and parents, and provide a framework for accountability and school improvement that focuses on academic achievement, leading to curriculum, instruction, and assessment with the potential for a system of mastery learning based on learners' needs.
Descriptors: School Restructuring, Student Interests, Mastery Learning, Educational Change, Accountability, Standards, Teaching Methods, Urban Schools, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Educational Improvement, Academic Achievement, Student Needs, Educational Quality
AERA SIG: Urban Learning, Teaching, and Research. Tel: 323-343-4393; Web site: http://aera-ultr.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A