EDUCATION

Education in the Social Welfare System



Education in the Social Welfare System

Introduction

In the 20th and 21st centuries, American educational systems have been challenged to respond to issues of equality and achievement, as Americans have sought to live up to the democratic ideals on which this nation was formed, as well as meet ongoing economic and defense needs. EI and EC programs typically provide family-centered services to eligible children and their families, with services designed to improve the children's developmental, social, and learning outcomes (Alberto & Troutman2006). Building upon the thinking behind P.L. 88-452, the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act and its 1965 amendments funded programs for economically disadvantaged children in both elementary and secondary schools. Controversies and concerns related to early intervention and early childhood special education focus on systems and program issues: the disparate availability and effectiveness of services, the challenge of adapting services to the unique needs of each family, and the problem of declining resources.

The main objectives of the education system in relation to the teachings are to improve education and student performance, getting everyone's success in compulsory education, increased child enrolment in high school and vocational training, raise qualifications in high school and vocational training, education for democratic citizenship, promote learning throughout life, strengthen the equity of the educational system and converge with the EU countries. The State Education System establishes that basic education includes ten years of schooling to develop a regular basis between six and sixteen. Basic education is organized in primary and compulsory secondary education.

A Brief History of this Issue

The history of American education parallels and reflects America's changing social values and economic needs in this Social Welfare System. In the 20th and 21st centuries, American educational systems have been challenged to respond to issues of equality and achievement, as Americans have sought to live up to the democratic ideals on which this nation was formed, as well as meet ongoing economic and defense needs. From the change to an industrial economy in the early 20th century to the emerging information and technological economy of the 21st century, American schools have been the primary mode for the transmission of cultural values and the preparation of children for adult roles as responsible citizens and workers (Gordon, 2003). Events such as the Soviet Union's 1957 launch of Sputnik and President Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty have influenced the curricular content and structure of American education. Additionally, the social changes represented in the Brown v. Board of Education decision,  the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (and subsequent amendments), and the Americans with Disabilities Act have affected access and equity in American schools and institutions of higher education. Most recently, questions regarding national defense and economic health have added new layers of complexity to American education in this Social Welfare System.

Concerns about American education in the Social Welfare System have led to a variety of actions, including federal mandates to demonstrate instructional efficacy through high-stakes testing; emphases on curriculum, instruction, and assessments that help students ...