Understanding the Education System - Essay Example

Understanding the Education System Introduction Provision of quality education is essential for increasing social economic welfare of a nation’s citizens. In the United States, both public and private schools provide education services. The US has integrated a K-12 public school program. The government evaluates students’ performance by analyzing results from standardized tests. Furthermore, the government also sets general education standards to be followed by public schools. The government supervises the schools colleges and university through a board of regents.

The state, local government or the federal government often funds the schools. Private schools are allowed to freely design their curriculum as well as determine the appropriate number of teachers and their remuneration. However, private schools must ensure that their institutions are accredited by the state. Many students join public and private schools, few children prefer home schooling. Additionally some parents prefer un-schooling which is a non-standardized alternative to formal education.

Such alternatives are preferred by parents who do not want their children to be influenced on religious deviations. Additionally, parents view that home schooling will enable their children to focus on their academic strengths and avoid negative peer pressure that is associated within school environment. Students being homeschooled are not exposed to school related challenges like bullying, crime, drugs, sex, and violence. Home schooling enables students with special needs to attain quality healthcare services and ensure that the curricular activities are focused on maximizing the student’s overall performance (Shriner, 1993).

The American education system still faces numerous challenges. Most of the students may fail to join universities and local colleges due to high cost of tuition. On average, the annual tuition is $7020 for public university. However, the cost is usually higher for private university. Additionally, the tuition for technical courses (such as nursing, medicine, and engineering) is extremely higher. Most university students are more likely to incur additional costs on activity fees, accommodation, supplies, and health insurance.

As a result, the overall annual cost may increase to $12000. Additionally, the costs are constantly increasing when the university administration adjusts for inflation. The cost education has increased by more than 20 percent from 200 to 2012. The increase comes at a time where the mean family income increases by less than 10 percent. Furthermore, the number of chalities subsidizing the cost of tution by providing scholarshis to students has decreased. The competition for the limited opportunities is very stiff and results in few students attaining college education.

Moreover, the amount of student loans is quite low and may fail to finance all costs. Upon graduation, the students have also to face additional challenges of attaining employment and paying the student loans. The federal government has a responsibility of ensuring all high school students attain post secondary education. The government must implement policies that ensure that students obtain tuition subsidies. Furthermore, the university administrations must ensure that the cost of tuition charged to the students is fair and reasonable.

The parents have a responsibility of ensuring that their children have education insurance policies to cover their education (Laura, 2013). References Kingsbury, K (2008). Four-Day School Weeks. Time magazine. Laura, G (2013). Stricter Pell Grant terms cost students at smaller schools, officials say. Anniston Star. Retrieved September 11, 2015, from http://annistonstar.com/view/full_story/23900815/article-Stricter-Pell-Grant-terms-cost-students-at-smaller-schools--officials-say?instance=1st_left Shriner, J.G., Kim, D.I., and Ysseldyke, M.E. (1993).

Technical report 4: Experts’ opinions about the appropriateness and feasibility of national math standards. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota,College of Education