The k-12 Curriculum in the Era of NCLB
December 2008
Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service, Medford, MA: Despite public belief to the co
ntrary, schools are not shifting away from teaching social studies, liberal arts, and sciences directly because of the pressures of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), according to a new study released by Tisch College’s Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University. In fact, at the middle and high school levels, curricula have remained constant and in some cases expanded since the federal law was passed in 2001.
CIRCLE analyzed five major federal datasets looking at the how curricula and relevant extracurricular activities have changed at the elementary, middle and high school levels from 1987 to 2005. Funded by the Ford Foundation, the full report is entitled Narrower at the Base: The American Curriculum After NCLB. Click to read the full study in PDF format.
In grades one through five, the curriculum has narrowed over the last ten years, with more time devoted to reading and math and less to science, arts, and social studies. These declines, however, began in the 1990s before the passage of NCLB. The trends are the same in private and public schools and in schools with majorities of white and minority students.
It would also be expected that new teachers would be influenced by current expectations and pressures to emphasize English and math, whereas veteran teachers would more likely maintain teaching priorities from their early days in education. The study found the reverse is true, with newer teachers providing a broader curriculum.
Even though the k-12 curriculum has not narrowed consistently, and even though NCLB is not mainly responsible for the narrowing that has occurred, the curricula may still be too narrow to prepare young people for citizenship. Extracurricular activities such as music, drama, student journalism, and student government, are also too rare.
Suggested citation: Levine, P., Lopez, M.H., and Marcelo, K.B. 2008. Getting Narrower at the Base: The American Curriculum after NCLB. CIRCLE (The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement) , via http://www.civicyouth.org/?p=325
Download the press release.
February 4th, 2009 at 3:41 am
I think that the idea to organaise No Child Left Behind Act is really helpfull and is worth of means spent on it. I hope that really none of the children won’t be left alone with his\her problems! God bless what you are doing
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Completely agree with you that at the middle and high school levels, curricula have remained constant and in some cases expanded since the federal law was passed.And it’s a pity that schools are not shifting away from teaching social studies, liberal arts, and sciences.
March 31st, 2009 at 11:30 am
Even though the k-12 curriculum has not narrowed consistently, and even though NCLB is not mainly responsible for the narrowing that has occurred, the curricula may still be too narrow to prepare young people for citizenship. Extracurricular activities such as music, drama, student journalism, and student government, are also too rare. Totally my words mate, it is important to let everybody else see the stuff you write about here.
April 3rd, 2009 at 2:22 am
It would also be expected that new teachers would be influenced by current expectations and pressures to emphasize English and math, whereas veteran teachers would more likely maintain teaching priorities from their early days in education. The study found the reverse is true, with newer teachers providing a broader curriculum. I think this is going to be a great move
May 9th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
NCLB must be improved I suppose.
June 30th, 2009 at 2:57 am
The press release is very great, lots of useful informations and easy to understand.
Thanks.
June 30th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Kids need to be taught practical things. They have no idea how to leverage their education in the real world. Most kids get out of school and have no idea even how to rent an apartment, let alone keeping America at the forefront of innovation. Something is wrong.
July 18th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
I like the post, it will help us increase quality of education very much.
Thanks.
July 24th, 2009 at 6:33 am
Downloaded that great press release.
Thank you very much.
August 1st, 2009 at 9:07 pm
yes it was kind of ironic that no child left behind… let a trough slip through the gaps. good to see it is improving though
August 18th, 2009 at 1:14 am
I believe that our curriculum must not remain stagnant. Our society is constantly evolving towards an advanced place to live in. Hence, by constantly adapting the school curriculum to such, we are giving our youth a solid foundation.
August 26th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I think right now we struggle with NCLB. The real problems is funding; where is the support?
Who is highly qualified and who is a dork?
And the biggest question with NCLB is if no one can fail, how can anyone succeed?
October 31st, 2009 at 2:35 am
This research is very important. I wonder how the decline in science can impact our nation’s competitive advantage. Isn’t research and innovation a key reason of why our economy is successful?
November 4th, 2009 at 6:28 am
NCLB is a tool for the youth of today to grow by, issues will arise in all of our lives. I find the majority find minimal interest in our government.
November 5th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
I searched for the history of NCLB Act, and found much information but could get my answer that what is the actual mission behind the inception of this act, means No Child Left Behind for what?
November 20th, 2009 at 6:13 am
thanks for this
November 25th, 2009 at 6:42 am
This is a good information…
November 30th, 2009 at 8:51 am
Really nice post,thanks for sharing….
December 5th, 2009 at 12:43 am
Interesting article. Very useful. Thank you.
December 10th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
answer is still a mystery but very good research, helpful information
December 20th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
It’s very important to revive extracurricular activities especially student journalism…
December 23rd, 2009 at 1:20 am
While I agree Reading and Math should be core focuses, I’m not sure shifting away from Science and the Arts is such a great thing. Though I have always felt that Social Studies carried too much emphasis. Though it’s important to learn history, it has little value (besides moral) in the real world. That is, unless you’re planning to write a book or become a teacher or historian.
December 29th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
I really support this! Extracurricular activities are fatal to a child’s development. Really great information here. Thank you.
December 30th, 2009 at 7:21 am
Here in Thailand are extracurricular activities standard as the basic education isn’t good at all.
December 30th, 2009 at 7:23 am
I have to agree with Koh Samui Villas. The educational standard here is far behind the West and every additional chance to improve knowledge is mandatory for a secure future.
December 30th, 2009 at 9:21 am
Reading and math should be a core focus. However in order to improve this beyond the very base level into a certain level interpretation. The social subjects are vital to take reading ability to develop greater level of understanding and interpretation.
January 1st, 2010 at 7:32 am
Yeah education is way far behind unfortunately. I truly support this.
I like the post
Regards FRM
January 3rd, 2010 at 6:52 am
great to see this has started happening.Don
January 4th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
I’m not sure shifting away from Science and the Arts is such a great thing. Though I have always felt Social Studies carried too much emphasis.
January 4th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
Article is much more interesting , Thanks for reliable work
January 5th, 2010 at 5:54 am
Downloaded that great press release.
Thank you very much.
January 5th, 2010 at 5:55 am
I like the post, it will help us increase quality of education very much.
Thanks.
January 5th, 2010 at 7:21 pm
lovely post. Thanks
January 7th, 2010 at 5:41 am
The press release is very great, lots of useful informations and easy to understand.
Thanks.
January 7th, 2010 at 11:37 am
Really nice post,thanks for sharing….
January 9th, 2010 at 2:22 am
tnx fo all
January 9th, 2010 at 2:24 am
best site ever
January 9th, 2010 at 2:25 am
MAny tnx
January 9th, 2010 at 2:26 am
Best post ever
January 12th, 2010 at 8:55 am
Young people are pretty savvy these days when it come to the lastest ways of the world They need to have strong values to get to were they want to be Don Brad
January 13th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
That’s a really true problem that we’re facing in these cruel world..
Christian Grants For Individuals
January 14th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Article is very nicely written, I think we need to promote the ideas related to civic education, then we can achieve the goals. Thanks
January 15th, 2010 at 6:24 am
NCLB should be improved with more strict guidelines for a better future
snowboarding guy
January 19th, 2010 at 3:51 am
yes thanks for the article
January 24th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Thx for this clever article, it helped me a lot.
January 24th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
I agree that we need to teach young people practical thing but we need to be more responsible teaching them.
February 1st, 2010 at 7:29 am
It is really important and here the matter is also very serious to teach the young generation with the latest norms and techniques of the society to make them better citizens.
February 4th, 2010 at 2:48 am
Can you list up some here, we need to progress with spread of information on this because awareness on this issue is very important in current situation.
February 10th, 2010 at 10:08 am
It’s a bitter truth that students are not much interested in learning social studies,but we mustn’t forget the importance of it because it relates us to our surroundings as well as it reminds us about our past.
February 11th, 2010 at 5:28 am
I agree that awareness and information are key to the issue.
February 17th, 2010 at 1:38 am
Thank you very much for the information provided! I was looking for this data for a long time.
February 22nd, 2010 at 6:12 am
This article is quite informative. I think we need to change the education system first. We need to raise our voice to enhance the free education system and syllabus.
March 1st, 2010 at 5:40 am
I just love your style !
March 7th, 2010 at 7:40 am
It’s a bitter truth that students are not much interested in learning social studies,but we mustn’t forget the importance of it because it relates us to our surroundings as well as it reminds us about our past.
March 7th, 2010 at 7:41 am
It is really important and here the matter is also very serious to teach the young generation with the latest norms and techniques of the society to make them better citizens.
March 9th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
Great post, keep up posting.
March 12th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
Though I have always felt that Social Studies carried too much emphasis.
March 16th, 2010 at 1:24 am
I believe that our curriculum must not remain stagnant. Our society is constantly evolving towards an advanced place to live in. Hence, by constantly adapting the school curriculum to such, we are giving our youth a solid foundation…
March 17th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Excellent article, thanks for sharing.
March 23rd, 2010 at 5:05 pm
I’m glad that I found this site. Very interesting article about the curriculum. Well, I think I am going to study the PDF now
Thanks!
March 23rd, 2010 at 6:25 pm
It is a bitter truth that students are not much interested in learning the social sciences, but we must not forget the importance of it because we respect our surroundings, and it reminds us of our past.
April 3rd, 2010 at 1:26 am
That is a great press release. It’s great to see that the newer teachers are once again aiming at providing a more rounded curriculum rather than just concentrating on maths and reading. In this way the strengths of individual children are more likely to be discovered.
April 8th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
quite an inspiring story, making me rethink about our countries’ education system, thanks for sharing
April 9th, 2010 at 5:25 am
good to know all about. its interesting.
April 12th, 2010 at 7:13 am
I gave up on our education system a long time ago but it’s still nice to see a story like this though.
April 14th, 2010 at 2:51 am
Very good post, I love it very much, please post more.
Thank you.
April 14th, 2010 at 8:11 am
I love whole this idea and support it. We need more things like this one. Keep up the good work!
May 4th, 2010 at 4:07 pm
I gave up on our education system a long time ago but it’s still nice to see a story like this though.
May 4th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
Nice performance will be remembered always. I believe this one too. You look so excited in the video.
May 6th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
In our study of high school civic opportunities, we found that a student’s race and academic track, and a school’s average socioeconomic status (SES) determines the availability of the school-based civic learning opportunities that promote voting and broader forms of civic engagemen
May 10th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
Thank you for this post..
May 11th, 2010 at 4:15 am
Thank you I always wanted to write in my site something like that. Can I take part of your post to my blog.
May 13th, 2010 at 2:44 am
Wow, the event seems to draw big attention. Good luck for the team. I am sure they will be able to propose more similar success in the future.
May 14th, 2010 at 5:12 am
Godo lcuk for the team! I hope they can manage the work and accomplish the targets on time. This will be a good standard for others.
May 15th, 2010 at 2:40 am
Thank you for this analysis. I’m student of sociological department. I need such surveys for my diploma. I think I can take this subject for the basis. Keep up your work.
May 17th, 2010 at 6:25 am
Cool facilities like this will enhance better participation rate. I hope so. Furthermore, good marketing will also help.
May 17th, 2010 at 8:47 am
Thx for this clever article, it helped me a lot.
Greez, Thommy.
May 17th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
Thank you for writing this article. Well written, and better – it helped me a lot.
May 19th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
It’s a bitter truth that students are not much interested in learning social studies,but we mustn’t forget the importance of it because it relates us to our surroundings as well as it reminds us about our past. I did read this blog and it was very interesting. I liked the second part the most.
May 20th, 2010 at 3:53 am
I think there is too much emphasis on the general abilities of children/students in terms of the general subjects, I believe that the academic system doesn’t allow you to choose your own career whilst at school, they don’t educate you on the life skills and the social skills which we need in life, nor do we go through other possible careers such as Dentistry or Veterinary. I think the schooling system is to focused on going to uni and getting a degree – yet they dont actually consider what your going to UNI for.
May 20th, 2010 at 5:56 am
People always look for this type of good information.
I hope that it will helpful for needy people.I am apreciating it very much!
Looking forward to another great article. Good luck to the author! all the best!
May 21st, 2010 at 5:05 am
Thank you.. I hope they can handle the work properly an dfinish all on schedule. This will be important for future improvement.
May 22nd, 2010 at 1:55 am
I agree with the above comment and thank you for writing about this topic. Glad that I read em.
May 23rd, 2010 at 10:09 am
Thank you for this clever article
May 26th, 2010 at 6:14 am
It should generally be acceptable if they want to promote more from the side. Think of the benefits you can gain.
May 26th, 2010 at 6:50 am
It’s a bitter truth that students are not much interested in learning social studies,but we mustn’t forget the importance of it because it relates us to our surroundings as well as it reminds us about our past.
May 26th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
Article is very nicely written, I think we need to promote the ideas related to civic education, then we can achieve the goals. Very useful post. Great information and presentation. The leaders of today build the future of tomorrow. Of course I am going to use this!
May 26th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Even though the k-12 curriculum has not narrowed consistently, and even though NCLB is not mainly responsible for the narrowing that has occurred, the curricula may still be too narrow to prepare young people for citizenship. You made some good points here.Keep us posting. Excellent article i am sure that i will come back here soon. What template do you use in your site?
May 27th, 2010 at 2:23 am
Finally we have a brand new facility to support the activity further. Hope they make good use of this.
May 28th, 2010 at 5:07 am
I believe that our curriculum must not remain stagnant. Our society is constantly evolving towards an advanced place to live in.Thank you for highlighting this, keep up your good work.
May 29th, 2010 at 12:03 am
After all, they should remember that every candidate is different and unique. They each should contribute different skills to the community.
May 30th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
I think the idea of organaise No Child Left Behind is really useful and worth the means employed in it. I really hope none of the children are not left alone with their problems! God bless what you are doing.
June 2nd, 2010 at 2:07 am
WE know it will be an important one to determine their future success. The synergy and spirit must not be overwhelmed this time.
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June 8th, 2010 at 8:26 pm
It should generally be acceptable if they want to promote more from the side. Think of the benefits you can gain.
June 9th, 2010 at 4:47 am
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June 10th, 2010 at 6:56 am
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June 11th, 2010 at 1:01 am
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June 12th, 2010 at 7:01 am
I have read some of your stories. I think you’re full of experience in that. Keep on it well.
June 15th, 2010 at 4:24 am
Very great discussiuon, best regards Maike
June 15th, 2010 at 8:13 pm
Truly, we know it will work from the beginning. They have made good preparation ahead everything else.
June 16th, 2010 at 12:45 am
If your articles is a true story, I will change that child’s condition. Because with a good skill in him, he proper to get a chance to develop his skill.
June 17th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
Extraciricular activites are the backbone to impoving our society. Keep up the good work for the children.
June 18th, 2010 at 3:06 am
I think it’s not too bad. Just need to modify a little more and it will be perfect.
June 18th, 2010 at 6:26 am
For being an artist, we must start our career from becoming a helper first. And of course the fee is also cheap.
June 18th, 2010 at 11:24 pm
Like this.I read The American Curriculum After NCLB.I think it will make our children more active.
June 19th, 2010 at 5:54 am
hello admin, I found your blog from yahoo and read a few of your other posts.They are awesome. Please keep it up!!
June 21st, 2010 at 2:00 am
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June 21st, 2010 at 2:06 am
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June 21st, 2010 at 4:18 am
As a webmaster , I’m very glad to see that someone thought to post this topic.
June 22nd, 2010 at 1:47 am
I like it, it’s very different but not too outlandish.
June 22nd, 2010 at 9:52 pm
It’s a bitter truth that students are not much interested in learning social studies,but we mustn’t forget the importance of it because it relates us to our surroundings as well as it reminds us about our past. I did read this blog and it was very interesting. I liked the second part the most.
June 23rd, 2010 at 4:20 am
You clearly know so much about the subject, you’ve covered so many bases.
Great stuff from this part of the internet. Again, thank you for this blog.
June 23rd, 2010 at 4:22 am
Thank you for another great article. Where else could anyone get that kind of information
in such a perfect way of writing?
June 29th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
I never experienced anything like that when I’m at school. And until I graduated, I also never heard about anything like that. I think that’s really fatal.
June 30th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Totally agree with you that in the middle and high school levels, curricula have remained constant and in some cases expanded since the federal law was passed.And is a shame that schools are moving from teaching social studies, humanities and sciences.
July 1st, 2010 at 5:57 am
I never experienced anything like that when I’m at school. And until I graduated, I also never heard about anything like that. I think that’s really fatal.Thanks for share!
July 2nd, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Although the K-12 curriculum has not been reduced steadily, and although the NCLB law is not primarily responsible for the declines that have occurred, the curriculum may still be too narrow to prepare young people for citizenship . Extracurricular activities such as music, theater, journalism student and student government are also rare.
September 11th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
It seems like everyone in my family is a teacher. I think that reading and math serve much more of a real life purpose, instead of social studies. Especially in the younger kids. Having a better understanding of it will help much more in life, than “wasting” their time learning the less important classes.
October 29th, 2010 at 10:52 am
I agree with Speed Reading. Maths and English are essential. So many lessons we were taught in education were pointless and to be honest, not needed.
November 30th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
Maybe the most influential paper that I have read this month?!
-Yours Truly,
Kevin
February 15th, 2011 at 11:42 am
[...] of time devoted to social studies has remained pretty constant in grades K-8. In high school, the number of credits earned in social studies is substantially up. The mix of courses has changed, however, with “civics” and problem-oriented or [...]
February 24th, 2011 at 9:11 am
Today the kids have to much to learn in a too short time.
More focus on the basics would be really better.