Why Does Every State In The U.S. Have A Different Educational Curriculum?

Educational system in the United States is considered as one of the best system in the world. They have a strong commitment that all individuals have the right to receive good education. As early as five years old, the child should already be in school learning his or her first ABC's. In addition, from thereon the compulsory learning will continue until they reach the twelfth year of schooling. If they did not finish from the compulsory education, then they will be considered as school dropouts. The educational system of United States is not standardized unlike the other countries. Each state varies with the use of curriculum, books and other teaching modules. Even the state assessment varies from one state to another.

Why does every state in the U.S have a different educational curriculum? Every state in the U.S have a different educational curriculum is because it is primarily it is based on the accessibility, autonomy and diversity of a state. The federal government does not really have the authority in recognizing and modifying educational institutions. All educational institutions, programs and curriculums should pass the standards set by the state. All institutions should have the necessary license in order to engage in any instructional matters.

Curriculums may differ from one state depending on the rulings of the state itself and other factors that affect the state curriculum. State curriculum highly believes that a student will be able to learn more depending on the field itself. Between a standard and state curriculum, state curriculum is what many students and parents like as they believe that state curriculum is a better option. In a given scenario, a student will be able to understand the teachings about snow if he is under state curriculum because he sees that his state is having snow. Therefore, if you will teach something about snow to a certain location, which does not have one, then chances are the students will not understand it because they do not have snow. So, primarily, each state curriculum is based on the needs and location of a certain state.

Likewise, historical background differs from each state, so it is better to be under the state curriculum than be part of a standard one, which will not be able to tackle the historical lineage of each state.

At present, the state curriculum is developed by the state with the help of education experts, school system, school administrators and teachers themselves. A curriculum guide is often presented on the district level. The teachers often have the upper hand on developing the modules of what they will be included in their teachings.

Part of the curriculum is also the complimentary instructions like textbooks, and teaching manuals and multimedia resources.

State curriculum also includes a standardized test and assessments of students after a given year. This will give them an insight how the students have progressed in their learning.

As of now, there is a debate whether a state curriculum is better than that of the standardized curriculum. As studies shows that American students are lagging in Math and Linguistic subjects.

The standardized curriculum being known as the common core state standard initiative was launched in 2010 and has gain popular support from majority of the states. Though as of the present, only the Math and language subjects are part of the common core state standard initiative. Other subjects still use the state curriculum.

In the end, whether the state curriculum or the common core standard curriculum will be applied, what should be in mind is the common good of the educational system. After all, an effective educational system can only be measured by the quality of the students it produces.

State Education Departments

The U.S. Department of Education