In a new era of Common Core State Standards (CCSS), teachers are expected to provide more rigorous, coherent, and focused curriculum at every grade level. To respond to the call for higher expectations across the curriculum and certainly within reading, writing, and mathematics, educators should work closely together to create mathematically…

Includes three documents arguing in favor of mandatory foreign language study in Australia's core curriculum. These statements are in response to the Curriculum Development Centre's recommendation that foreign languages "not" be mandatory. (EKN)

Describes debates over general education and the common curriculum in Great Britain and Canada. In Great Britain, the central government's Department of Education and Science supports a core curriculum. In Canada, the National Council of Ministers of Education, Canada, may recommend a common curriculum to the provincial ministries of education.…

The loose smorgasbord distribution requirements and free electives of the '60s, have given way to more proscribed requirements and core programs. General education is a response to a need to reaffirm the connectedness among people. The agenda for general education is to teach those common experiences, relationships, and ethical concerns. (MLW)

The author examines the background and aftermath of the government's 1977 Green Paper, "Education in Schools: A Consultative Document." In particular, he discusses the possibilities of government interference in curricular decision making at the local level. (Editor/SJL)

Policy revisions by the Council on Social Work Education have sought to maintain relevance of curriculum content to changing practice and to simplify, integrate, and systematize a unified master's degree curriculum. The major categories used by the council to designate primary curriculum areas are discussed. (MSE)

Highlights characteristics of arts education in Norway, especially with regard to music education. Discusses arts education policy issues such as School Reform 97, the aesthetic dimension, and the idea of the core curriculum. Observes how these different policy issues affected arts education and music/dance education in particular. (CMK)

Decries decline in humanities enrollment figures forced by a society that demands accountability of its educational system. Sees reduction or removal of core-curriculum as opposed to majors' requirements as a development leading to an impoverishment of humanistic values. Advocates cooperative experimentation in curriculum design as a possible…

No one learns in isolation; learning must be tied to real life experiences that are relevant to the student. "Integrated curriculum, interdisciplinary" and "multidisciplinary curriculum, teaming, standards" and "accountability" are terms with which every educator is familiar. "No Child Left Behind" is the…

This publication presents the American Federation of Teachers' 10 criteria for high-quality public school academic standards and seeks to contribute to the national debate about school reform, academic achievement, and world-class educational standards. The criteria are: (1) standards must focus on academics because the purpose of setting…

This report evaluates the college transfer policies of each of the 15 member states of the Southern Regional Education Board--Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. States are urged to develop common standards for core…

Four national educational reform initiatives (national goals for schools, core curriculum, national student examination system, and teacher certification processes) are examined and policy implications discussed. It is argued that, although these initiatives are progressing, they will not succeed without sustained commitment on the parts of the…

Explores how curricular changes reflect modernization and its attendant social problems. Examines influences of decentralized and centralized systems, and degree of national identity, on curriculum development. Considers types of new subjects (e.g., anti-drug education) and the risks of overloading curricula with subjects of a relatively…

The Further Education Unit (FEU) believes that young school leavers should be able to check their achievements against a core of entitlement. Therefore, the FEU is proposing a core curriculum to support the successful transition of the school leaver aged 16 or older to adult life. The core, which is intended to serve as a diagnostic and planning…