Education Reform - Term Paper Example

“The dropout rate is also higher in both rural and inner-city areas, where young people lack cultural and financial resources.” (Macionis,2006). The reports have dealt with the growing problems of providing quality education amongst the quantifiable mass. The High School reforms reports speaks about the increasing dropout rates from high schools where students are opting for jobs rather than colleges for higher education. The report gives an insight into the fact that as students prepare in high schools for entry into colleges, does the same preparedness apply when they want to opt for a job.

One third of a nation report speaks about the alarming dropout rates of the students which have been measured to be a one third of the entire student population and hence one third of a nation. The closing of the Education Frontier report also highlights the quantifiable figures who are opting out of high schools and colleges which have made the people to remove their blindfold that educational reforms are taking place. Statistics have shown the people the real face of the state of education which is definitely a cause of concern.

The fourth report of the twin challenges of mediocrity and inequality gives a comparative overview of the state of literacy over 20 countries of equal or high income where the US is ranked 9th in terms of literacy levels. There are serious questions asked whether the education reform is actually bringing in reform just as the policies are being formed in the legislature. The fifth report of hard facts in education reform addresses the fact that tests cannot be benchmarks of deciding whether there have been educational reforms or not, there has to be a proper planning and implementation strategies which will govern reforms and whether it is actually achieved or not.

Part two: analyze all reports individually. is it working? The High School Reforms: Facing Labor Market Realities This report gives a lot of impetus on the fact that since students are already opting for jobs rather than colleges after their high schools, then are they having the necessary academic background and knowledge that they can draw higher incomes as compared to those who are getting their bachelor’s degree. The employers need to give their inputs of what knowledge level they expect from the high school graduates and there is a need for serious analysis into it which has not been addressed.

Labor Market realities are not working currently but there is a need for the practical job industry to give their inputs to shape up the work executives of tomorrow. “This report summarizes studies of what employers say they are looking for when they hire for jobs that do not require college degrees.” (Barton,2006). One-Third of a Nation: Rising Dropout Rates and Declining Opportunities This report gives out the statistics that the school dropout rates have been rising alarmingly across the United States.

“The High School Completion Rate has been Falling. Nationally, after peaking at 77.1 percent in 1969, the rate dropped to 69.9 percent in 2000.” (Barton,2005). “In high school completion rates, the United States has slipped to 10th place in the world.”(Barton,2005). There have been models like talent development, Maryland’s Tomorrow, Communities in Schools and Quantum opportunity programs which has assisted in retaining the students. Though these models have