The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines school as "an organization that provides instruction." With your background of experience as students in a large public school system, you probably have a more specific perception of what a school is and how schools are organized. However, the expansion of "school choice" in the United States has given rise to a variety of school alternatives. School choice programs give parents the opportunity to choose the school their children will attend, and allow students to attend schools other than their geographically-assigned public schools. Current school choice programs and alternatives include: open enrollment and dual enrollment policies, virtual and distance education, magnet schools, charter schools, vouchers for private schools, and home schooling. Because these alternatives have the potential to impact students, teachers, and school systems in many ways, school choice is currently the subject of intense debate among parents, politicians, public school officials, teachers and teachers' unions. You will need to do some research to learn more about these alternatives to traditional public schooling, so that you can decide where you stand on the school choice issue and answer this essential question:
Should alternatives to traditional public education be continued and expanded in Maryland? |
Task and Product
You will conduct research to gather information about one school choice alternative. To help you develop some background knowledge and select a topic, read the following overview from CNN's special report on America's Changing Classrooms.
Select one of the school choice programs or alternatives below as a topic of research:
Open Enrollment Policies |
Magnet Schools |
Home Schooling |
Virtual &
Distance Education |
Dual Enrollment Programs |
Charter Schools |
Vouchers and Tax Credits for
Private Schools |
|
You will use your research findings to design a brochure to inform your classmates about this school choice program or alternative.
Then you will examine your classmates' brochures in order to compare and contrast the various patterns of school organization.
Assessments
Research Process Assessments:
|
Final Product Assessment: Learning Log Assessment: CR Rubric |
Essential Question guiding the research:
Should alternatives to traditional public education be continued and expanded in Maryland? |
Subtopics about your selected school alternative:
- Origins and history
- Characteristics
- Why families might choose this alternative
- Potential benefits for students, teachers, & public schools (Pros)
- Potential drawbacks for students, teachers, & public schools (Cons)
Use a variety of resources for gathering information about alternatives to traditional public education.
Sort your research findings using this note-taking organizer.
Be sure to avoid plagiarism and remember to cite your sources.
- Follow a style guide to prepare your Bibliography (Works Cited) OR
- Use an online citation generator such as EasyBib, CitationMachine, or Noodle Tools
Analyze your research notes to determine if you have adequate information to answer your subsidiary questions.
Synthesize your findings by creating your brochure in Microsoft Publisher. Refer to one of these Microsoft Publisher guides as needed.
Evaluate your finished product according to the brochure assessment rubric.
Share your brochure with your classmates. As you examine brochures created by classmates who researched topics other than your own, use this note-taking organizer take to compare/contrast the various school alternatives.
Respond to the essential question in a Learning Log, which will be graded using this scoring tool. Use details from your research and your examination of the brochures to support your answer.
Should alternatives to traditional public education be continued and expanded in Maryland? |
Extension Activity: Debate the school choice issue with your fellow prospective teachers. Support your opinion with facts from your research.