The national curriculum is a lively debated topic in the United States, and there have been numerous efforts to improve the existing education system. However, experts identify several obstacles to the national curriculum implementation and regulated assessment, looking for a better solution. Aydin et al. (2017) emphasize that schools need specified regulations due to a vastly cultural and socio-economic diverse student body. In other words, pupils have distinct needs in learning, and it is the duty of the education system to provide for them. Furthermore, there is a necessity for valid and reliable assessment procedures that might effectively evaluate the students’ academic progress (Waugh & Gronlund, 2013). There are thousands of students from poor families, with disabilities, non-native speakers, or other complications that might obstruct their learning process. Ultimately, the education system needs to adjust its teaching methods, assessment techniques, and methodological approaches to meet the needs of these students, and the national curriculum does not effectively solve these problems.
Moreover, states in America have highly unique approaches to education, and it is challenging to implement a national curriculum that would adhere to all specificities. In a public speech, Linda Darling-Hammond discusses the regulated approach to curriculum and assessment in California, such as state approval of textbooks and high science standards (EdSource, 2013). She provides a critical overview of the education system and advocates for necessary changes, predicting an “education renaissance.” (EdSource, 2013). There is an urgent need for quality improvement initiatives in performance assessment; however, states have various levels of funding devoted to education (EdSource, 2013). It is another relevant problem to the national curriculum implementation that needs both federal and state attention. Ultimately, a highly diverse student body and the need for urgent education changes are the primary obstacles to the national curriculum in the United States.
References
Aydin, H., Ozfidan, B., & Carothers, D. (2017). Meeting the challenges of curriculum and instruction in school settings in the United States. Journal of Social Studies Education Research, 8(3), 76-92.
EdSource. (2013). Linda Darling-Hammond predicts potential “education renaissance” [Video File]. Web.
Waugh, C. K., & Gronlund, N. E. (2013). Assessment of student achievement (9th edition). Pearson.