Instructor: Stephen York
EDPO 577: Contemporary Issues in American Education
Course Description: This course is a a reading and discussion-rich seminar. If you are registering as a Guided Independent Study student please Contact Stephen for the discussion schedule. Students will design an individual learning plan and select print and non-print resources to meet their personal goals. Students will also participate in online discussions between sessions.The course addresses current, divisive issues facing American public schools in the 21st century, within the framework of the history of educational reform — since the 1890s. The study includes the social-ecological questions of control, standards, curriculum and pedagogy. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), high-stakes testing, accountability, teacher merit pay, charter schools, the privatization of public education, and the polarization and politicization of education will be considered, as well as the impact of school unions and private foundations’ influence on public education.