3.0

credits

Average Course Rating

K-12 education outcomes in the United States are often contrasted with those of other countries, especially nations now showing stronger results than America on international assessments such as TIMSS (Third International Math and Science Study) and PISA (Program for International Student Assessment). But what, exactly, are the top-performing countries doing differently from the United States? How do they structure K-12 education, and how do they manage accountability for excellence? Students will research these questions from several vantage points. They will review synoptic treatments that span multiple countries, and do a “deep dive” on one country’s reforms and evaluate the impact of the different ways in which countries abroad structure their public education systems. Finally, students will assess the strengths and weaknesses of applying international models to their own national or state contexts.