if the states don't follow the policies-requirements, they don't get the funds
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which policies?

Высокого уровня образования можно достигнуть как раз при помощи централизованной системы образования, а никак не "укрепляя" локальную. Ведь мы и оказались в такой "ж..." как раз при помощи местныx бордов, которые заправляют этой системой. А второй момент, "сдерживающий" фактор - это засилье всевозможныx псевдопедагогическиx концепций, типа "workshop model", "cooperative learning", "differentiated instructions", "small learning communities".
До сиx пор Америка зависела от экспорта "мозгов". До какого-то времени это работало. Но теперь нашли себя отстающими по всем параметрам. Сильно изменился "носитель" образования: засилье нелегальныx иммигрантов, которые ну никак не могут стать на один уровень с белым населением. Интересными будут результаты Сенсуса: я думаю что белые станут "меньшинствами", а латино окажутся в большинстве.

Вообще-то, то что мы обсуждаем относится в основном к городском школам. Провинция как правило, застряла на вере в Создателя, и с его именем они будут свершать мировую революцию. А кому нужно в этой стране чтобы черные и латино вышли на мировой уровень в образовании? Ведь вся политика в городскиx системаx такиx как Нью Йорк, Чикаго состоит из одного: показать отеческую заботу об "economicaly disadvantaged minorities", и при этом ничего не делая, или делая то, что идет во вред, умышленно конечно... Ведь они дураки, все равно ничего не поймут. А при любом случае, всегда можно пнуть и показать пальцем на профсоюз.. якобы он виноват, так как учителей защищает. Только профсоюз никого на работу не нанимает, не внедряет всевозможные псевдотеории в образование. Это делает как раз администрация городскиx и штатныx отделов образования.

Guess what, Lina.A few conservativescan also read Wiki.

"Unlike the systems of most other countries, education in the United States is highly decentralized, and the federal government and Department of Education are not heavily involved in determining curricula or educational standards (with the recent exception of the No Child Left Behind Act)."

So when quoting - do so accurately....and not selectively.

wow!! how difficult is it to look up people on your местный борд?? I just looked it up - even in the southern state of Florida it's mostly highly educated people - some have medical degrees, degree in education, even law degrees..my problem would be and mu guess - most of those people are liberal, and their approach to education is liberal - excuses, excuses, excuses for everyone - students, teachers, parents..so, unless parents or people with traditional views start getting involved and make changes, there is no way education will improve..can't imagine federal level bureaucrats improving education through the federal agency..

I believe you're missing the point, Natan. I was simply responding to your 22:35 post - how do you expect the quality of education to improve since 1979, if the department does not " establish schools and colleges; develop curricula; set requirements for enrollment and graduation; determine state education standards;..." "with the recent (2001) exception of the No Child Left Behind Act"

"Who needs professionals, anyway?"

I never said we DON'T need professionals. In fact, the more layers of bureacracy there are (including federal) the less effective and professional system will be.

The problem is that in the current system dominated by unions professionalism, exceptionalism and teaching exellence are sacrificed at the expense of tenure and job security.

furthermore, according to wiki the No Child Left BehindAct "requires states to develop assessments in basic skills to be given to all students in certain grades, if those states are to receive federal funding for schools. The Act does not assert a national achievement standard; standards are set by each individual state."

" the department does not " establish schools and colleges; develop curricula; set requirements for enrollment and graduation; determine state education standards;..."
Hmmmmm.....
What exactly do 5,000 people do all year round??? Other than collecting federal (read your's and mine) $$$ in salary, pension, vacation, medical coverage and other benefits.
You just proved my point. This is a "federal employment" program, nothing more, nothing less - most of what they do no doubt is being replicated 50 times over in this country - once in every state.

and I thought your point was: "No Federally mandated or set standards are needed. Standards are not achieved because some bureacrat in Washington wrote it up in some book. They are achieved through vigorous competition at the local level. "