How the U . S . Department of Education ...
ready for college math , and 38 % were prepared for college-level reading . But in 2015 , only 37 % were prepared for college ” ( Singer , 2016 ). Although one of the main goals of implementing the Core Curriculum was to prepare students for college-level coursework , many college freshmen continue to enroll in remedial coursework .
If the Common Core is the Department of Education ’ s ultimate solution to producing college-bound students , the department fails . Since the implementation of the Common Core in 2009 , NAEP has shown that from 2013 to 2015 , standardized test scores of 12th-grade students dropped in math and remained stagnant in reading ( Singer , 2016 ). With scores deteriorating in arguable the two most important subjects , it is time to examine if the Common Core is really the best curriculum for all students to follow .
College Enrollment
Another factor that the department analyzes is how many students enroll in college . An April 28 , 2016 , news release from the United States Department of Labor Statistics states that : “ In October 2015 , 69.2 % of 2015 high school graduates were enrolled in colleges or universities ” ( College Enrollment and Work Activity of 2015 High School Graduates ).
However , not all students who start college complete their degrees . They are also taking longer to finish . According to the National Center for Education Statistics ( NCES ), of full-time students who began bachelor ’ s degrees in 2008 , 60 % of them graduated in 2014 . Often , students take longer to finish because they still require remedial coursework , despite taking more rigorous classes in high school .
Currently , the U . S . is ranked fourth globally for the number of people who hold bachelor degrees , according to an article published in 24 / 7 Wall St . ( 2012 , Sep . 21 ). Despite this statistic , the future of our nation is uncertain . Of the students who do graduate from college , not enough earn degrees in math and science-related fields .
A 2009 U . S . Department of Education survey reports on those who hold bachelor ’ s degrees in the U . S . In most states those who hold engineering and science-related degrees make-up less than 10 % of degree holders . If these trends persist , the U . S . will continue to be unable to compete in the global market ; we will not be able to fill technology , science , or healthcare professions with domestic candidates .
In conclusion , if the U . S . wants to fill more of its jobs with its own candidates , and to compete globally , the Department of Education must rethink its teaching methodologies , as well as to find ways to assist students in completing their college degrees . Although the Department of Education has succeeded in raising the number of graduating high schoolers , many of these students are not prepared for life after high school
Works Cited :
24 / 7 Wall St , The Most Educated Countries in the World , ( 2012 , Sep . 21 ): http :// 247wallst . com / special-report / 2012 / 09 / 21 / the-most-educated-countries-in-the-world /
US Department of Education , U . S High School Graduation Rate Hits New Record High : http :// www . ed . gov / news / press-releases / us-high-school-graduation-rate-hits-newrecord-high-0
National Dropout Prevention Center / Network at Clemson University : ( http :// dropoutprevention . org / resources / statistics / quick-facts / why-students-drop-out /)
Resmovits , Joy , ( 2014 , May 7 ) The Huffington Post , “ American Students Perform Worse As They Reach Higher Grades ” http :// www . huffingtonpost . com / 2014 / 05 / 07 / naep-2013- high-school _ n _ 5276767 . html
Singer , Alan , ( 2016 , May 2 ) The Huffington Post , “ Results are in : Common Fore Fails Tests and Kids ” ( http :// www . huffingtonpost . com / alan-singer / results-are-in--commonco _ b _ 9819736 . html ).
United States Department of Labor , Bureau of Labor Statistics , Economic New Release , ( 2016 , Apr . 28 ) “ College and Work Activity of 2015 High School Graduates ” https :// www . bls . gov / news . release / hsgec . nr0 . htm
National Center for Education Statistics : https :// nces . ed . gov / fastfacts / display . asp ? id = 40
Siebens , Julie ; Ryan , Camille L . United States Census Bureau “ Field of Bachelor ’ s Degree in the United States : 2009 ” American Community Survey Reports https :// www . census . gov / prod / 2012pubs / acs-18 . pdf
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