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Reforming Public Education in the USA
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Introduction
The United States' education system, like that of any other country, needs to be
transformed to reach its full potential. In any area or sector within a specific jurisdiction, reforms
are critical. The reforms are historically inspired to reflect society's contemporary demands. They
aimed to improve one of the essential aspects of the reforming systems. Education is no
exception, as it necessitates reforms to attain excellence in teaching and leadership in the
educational system.
The United States' existing public education system faces numerous issues to resolve
amicably. Deficits in funding for the public education system are one of these issues. The local
and national governments provide funds for the public education system. There have been issues
with technology in education, particularly in public schools. Exams have been taught utilizing
smartphones and quick access to computers, for example, which has negatively impacted
learning (Christensen et al., 2017).
Addressing these issues will necessitate modifications to guarantee that the education
provided is high quality. These reforms would require all stakeholders to combine their efforts to
achieve the highest quality (Christensen et al., 2017). The significance of these reforms will have
an impact not only on the lives of individual students but also on the entire community. The
quality of education provided by the public education system or private education reflects
society's quality of living. This article focuses on intelligent accountability and resource
alignment, long-term leadership, and related long-term visions that can be used to transform the
US public education system.
What Needs to be Done to Reform Public Education in the USA
Incorporating Long Term Visions
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Incorporating long-term visions into the educational system can aid the United States'
educational process to become more than it is now. The public's perception of the existing public
education system is dissatisfaction and pessimism. The national sentiment underpinning public
complaints might be described as both a dimming of personal aspirations and a worry of the
United States' culture being lost. Stakeholders such as parents, teachers, and students believe that
the promise of public education is not being honoured on a personal basis. Consider the time it
took for education funding to be released to the public education system (Christensen et al.,
2017).
Having the interests and wants of the American child at heart and purpose are some of the
long-term visions that should be implemented to ensure that quality of education makes the
nation proud and optimistic about the generation's future. The government should have a strategy
to ensure that education funds are distributed on time to schools to meet the criteria for learning
in these institutions. If the funds are received on time, the schools will have to organize their
programs in advance. There will be no inconvenience to kids, teachers, parents, or other
stakeholders (Christensen et al., 2017). Other visions include designing a curriculum that does
not differentiate between private and public schools based on ownership and boosting awareness
about education. It is simple to grasp once you know about it.
Long-term transitions will be costly, but they will eventually yield the desired outcomes.
Long-term educational visions will aid in resolving the damaged education system that has
resulted from an inadequate educational foundation (Christensen et al., 2017). These visions
must diminish or eliminate a new type of mediocrity, frustration, and pessimism. "Our society's
educational basis is currently being destroyed by a rising tide of mediocrity that threatens our
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future as a nation and people," according to the National Commission on Excellence in
Education (2020).
Creating Sustained Leaderships and Ambitious Standards"
Leadership and standards can create a positive work atmosphere if they are followed.
When the leaders know exactly what they're supposed to be doing, they'll be able to provide
fantastic results. Problems can be alleviated by collaboration between the government and school
officials. For a system that works for everyone, the leaders must get involved in developing the
system's primary activities. As a result of everyone's satisfaction, they get enthusiastic about
ensuring the system functions correctly (NowThisWorld, 2016).
Reforms cannot be implemented without a solid understanding from solid leadership.
When leaders are held accountable for their actions, improvements are easier to manage.
Knowing where we are now regarding public education's impact and effects on our society can
help us build a better shift. The reforms will be sustained if the underlying information is used to
ensure that the reforms' intended outcomes are accomplished. Creating an environment that
fosters greatness will be easier if all stakeholders and the leaders are working together. By
bringing together multiple stakeholders in a particular policy area, coordination produces
synergies and provides citizens with seamless rather than fragmented access to services (2007).
As a result, strong leadership is critical to enacting systemic changes in public education.
Effective Usage of Resources
A school's or organization's overall management would be incomplete without
considering how best to use available resources. The resources owned by the private education
system may be greater than those available to the public education system. They are primarily
reliant on government assistance to get their work done. For example, the government relies on
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public funds to carry out most of its functions. Because of this, it is imperative that the limited
resources have been put to good use, and there is a minimal waste to meet the quality of
excellence required. Teachers, parents, and students all have a role to play in ensuring the
resources are put to good use. For example, the teachers need to protect and safeguard any
teaching materials they are given by either the government or the institutions. Students and their
families must also ensure that their resources are adequately cared for and put to use
(NowThisWorld, 2016).
Different stakeholders in the US educational system must embrace efficient use of
resources, alignment, and coherence if the system transforms. The resources must be used in a
way that can be traced back to a specific outcome. As a result, everyone has a responsibility to
do their part to achieve the best results possible. Latino High Schools, which have been linked to
a lack of material resources according to (William 2018), have been studied by her. Because of
the lack of resources, better attention was not paid to the children's learning ability. As a result, it
is everyone's responsibility to ensure that the resources at their disposal are appropriately
managed and utilized.
Intelligent Accountability of Educational Resources
Stakeholders are held fully responsible for the trust they have been granted when
intelligent accountability is used. The responsibility will be intelligent only by assessing the
stakeholders based on what they already know. A school leader who cannot account for the
school's expenditures within a calendar year even though it is within his authority would be
regarded as intelligently unaccountable. Students' results can also be used to hold the other
teachers accountable. In addition to the student's efforts, the parents' involvement might be
considered while evaluating their achievement (NowThisWorld, 2016).
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Those responsible for ensuring that the quality of education is at its finest must be in
place. A regular check-in by the quality assurance team is necessary to ensure that the resources
are being utilized to their fullest potential (NowThisWorld, 2016). The smooth operation of
institutions can be ensured by using accountability to verify the tracks. For many conservative
critiques of education, the integration of concepts taken from the financial industry and processes
of strict accountability will provide the motor to drive reform efforts in more productive
directions." J., Williamson (2018).
Conclusion
As a result, reforms in the public education system ensure that students receive the
greatest possible education possible. To ensure that the reforms are successful, the public
education system should incorporate long-term visions such as timely government funding,
consistent leadership and high standards, effective resource utilization, alignment and coherence
in the education sector, and intelligent accountability. The outcomes of the reforms should
provide a better option that can lead to a more optimistic society. Ultimately, society's quality of
life will be reflected in its products.
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References
Christensen, T., & Lægreid, P. (2017). The whole‐of‐government approach to public sector
reform. Public administration review, 67(6), 1059-10.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1540-6210.2007.00797.x
National Commission on Excellence in Education. (2020). A nation at risk: The imperative for
educational reform. The Elementary School Journal, 84(2), 113-130.
https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdf/10.1086/461348
Williamson, J. (2018). What Washington means by policy reform (pp. 18-23). Routledge.
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780429498893-4/
washingtonmeans-policy-reform-john-willi
NowThisWorld. (2016). Here’s Why The U.S. School System in Broke. Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOZocYcttO4
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