Current Trends in Education and Educational Reform Notebook Activity 11

Question 1

Department of Education

Answer 1

Is a government agency created to help states establish effective school systems. Today, the Department of Education operates programs that touch on every area and level of education

Question 2

National Science Foundation

Answer 2

Is a government agency created “to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense; and for other purposes”.

Question 3

Bureau of Indian Affairs(BIA)

Answer 3

Is a government agency that manages and finances many of the schools on Native American Reservations.

Question 4

Department of Defense

Answer 4

Is a government agency responsible for the Military Academy at West Point, the Naval Academy at Annapolis, the Coast GuardAcademy at New London, and The Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs. The DOD also operates a school system (Department of Defense Education Activity, or DoDEA) for the children of military staff wherever members are stationed

Question 5

Department of the Interior

Answer 5

Is a government agency that has the educational responsibility for children of national park employees; for Samoa (classified as an outlying possession); and for the trust territories of the Pacific, such as the Caroline and the Marshall Islands. The Department of the Interior oversees Bureau of Indian Affairs

Question 6

Regional Education Laboratories

Answer 6

The federal government funds a set of ten regional education laboratories, which provide curriculum development, technical assistance, and evaluation services to school districts and states.

Question 7

National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)

Answer 7

Is a non-government agency that grants professional accreditation in teacher education to the school, college, or department of education that is responsible for preparing teachers and other educators.

Question 8

Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC)

Answer 8

Is a non-government agency that offers accreditation to teacher education programs. TEAC is newer than NCATE and is also dedicated to helping improve degree programs for professional educators.

Question 9

Interstate New Teacher Assesement and Support Consortium (InTASC)

Answer 9

Is a non-government agency that created a set of 10 standards that describe what teachers should know and be able to do.

Question 10

National Education Association (NEA)

Answer 10

Is a non-government agency. The NEA is a teacher union and is by far the largest teachers’ organization. The NEA is committed to advancing public education and improving working conditions. The NEA also provides resources to teachers; such as handbooks on a variety of topics.

Question 11

American Federation of Teachers (AFT)

Answer 11

Is a non-government agency and is the second largest teachers’ union. The AFT has stressed that organized labor was an important force in establishing our system of free public schools and that has actively supported school improvement programs.

Question 12

Regional Accreditation

Answer 12

Are non-governement organizations that grant accreditaion on a university’s financial status, student services, and general studies curriculum. There are 6 regional agencies that are named based ont the general region they are in. For example, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools cover states in the upper central parts of the US.