This will infuriate some and sound reasonable to others. If so it has met it's purpose. To make you think. I appreciate all and any CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. Tell me how to make it better.

Education

1. “Free” public education available through PhD.

• All classes will be assigned a monetary value that takes into account all expenses necessary to teach the class on a per capita basis at the learning institution.

a. Maintaining the physical classroom, environment, building and grounds

b. Books (including library)

c. Equipment (lab, sports, musical, theater, art, etc.)

d. Salaries (teachers and administrative)

• Any class that the student has failed (this does not include a failure in an attempt to test out of the class), taken previously to successful completion or withdrawn from without a waiver must be paid for by the student upon re-enrollment

• Local organizations may charge a fee for classes outside the required curriculum offered at the learning institution but the fee must follow the formula described above

• Only one of each advanced degree (associates, bachelors, masters or doctorate) is free. The student must pay for any basic courses already taken that do not apply to the new degree if he/she changes their major, before new courses are available at state expense

2. Required courses for graduation at each level

(Elementary, high school, Associates, Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate)

• With the advice of national teachers organizations (elementary through Doctoral teachers), local lawmakers and the President of the United States, Congress and the Department of Education shall establish a basic curriculum for each grade and advanced degree

• These curriculum shall ensure literacy (in the prevailing majority language), necessary mathematical skill and a grounding in arts and sciences for students graduating from the elementary grades (pre-K through 6th) and high school (7th through 12th) and be in force nation wide

• Curriculum may be more flexible for college levels but basic courses must still be approved by the Department of Education and Congress at least one semester/term before they are offered

• All basic courses must be offered by all public elementary and high schools nation wide. With the exception of empty classes (no enrolled students for the class)

• All basic courses are fully transferable between public schools regardless of when or where the courses were taken

• When a student has successfully passed or tested out of all basic courses for a level (elementary, high school, associates, bachelors, masters or doctorate) they shall be awarded a certificate of completion which must be accepted nation wide

• Pre-requisites for college level programs may be met by certificates of completion or by successful completion of tests designed to certify that the student possesses the necessary knowledge to enter the program. Either method is sufficient to allow admittance and must be accepted by public colleges

3. Advancement policy

• Successful completion of a standardized comprehensive examination, approved by the Department of Education, will be required to successfully complete a required course

• This standardized examination must be updated and reconfigured on a regular schedule as directed by the Congress

• A student must take and pass this examination (whether they have attended the class or not) in order to be enrolled in the subsequent class for this subject

• All basic subject examinations for all grade levels must be passed successfully before a certificate (elementary, high school, associates, bachelors or doctorate) will be issued. However, successful completion of all basic examinations for all grade levels is entirely sufficient for awarding of a certificate and no further restrictions may be applied

• A student may take any course for which they have successfully qualified regardless of certificates obtained (i.e. a student could take advanced college mathematics courses while not having obtained an elementary certificate provided they successfully passed all required examinations for advancement in mathematics, selected the college program they would eventually enter and obtained the college’s permission since they had not met all the requirements necessary for entry.)

4. Testing out

• A student may successfully complete any basic course by passing the standardized examination for that course whether they have attended the class or not. The first attempt to successfully complete the examination is free

• If a student has not attended the class and fails their first attempt at the comprehensive examination, they may take the class and the comprehensive examination again for free. However, any subsequent attempt at passing the examination without taking the class will cost the student the average nationwide cost of the class, payable to the Department of Education for disbursement as federal spending for education

• Standardized examinations on all subjects at all non-college grade levels will be offered by all public non-college schools at the end of each semester/term and staggered so that a student may take multiple examinations each semester/term.

• Colleges will offer standardized examinations on demand at the end of each semester/term

• Non-students must register for their exams at least one month prior to the end of the semester/term

5. Attendance not required

• All minors must still be registered in the public school system but they are not required to attend public school

• If a minor is registered to attend classes in a public school, the school is required to inform the minor’s parent/s or guardian about unexcused absences, suspension or expulsion

• A minor may choose not to attend classes with their parent/s or guardian’s permission

• Children’s rights

a. Parent/s or a guardian may choose not to have their minor attend classes provided the minor agrees

b. If the minor wants to attend classes over the parent/s or guardians objection they have the option of joining the Children’s Non-traditional Education Program (described later)

6. Age segregation through high school

• All classes Pre-K through high school level will be segregated based on age where practical

• Should the population of the school be so low as to make segregation by age impractical, students of varying ages may be taught in the same class provided strict supervision is maintained to prevent intimidation by older students

7. Reinstatement

• Should a student be suspended or expelled that restriction applies to all public schools, nation wide

• Suspension shall apply to all classes currently being attended by the student and shall be registered as a failure in all said classes

• Suspensions may apply to the current semester/term or multiple periods but may be appealed to the Department of Education

• Expulsion shall remove an individuals right to any further public education and may be appealed to the Department of Education

8. Medical and hardship waivers

• Students who must withdraw from a class or classes due to medical problems or a hardship may retake the class for free as long as the withdrawal is approved by the local school with the option of appeal to the Department of Education

9. Staffing and pay

• Criteria for staffing of basic public classes shall be the responsibility of the Department of Education with approval of the Congress as advised by national teachers organizations

• The Department of Education shall establish these criteria based on:

a. Degrees obtained by the teacher on a subject and grade level basis

b. Assessment by peers during a probationary period and periodic re-assessment by peers

c. Population of enrollees at the school with a maximum class size established for each class based on age and subject

d. Support personnel necessary, including administrators, to support teacher population, classes taught, age levels of students and community environment of the school

• The Department shall also establish requirements for refresher training and recertification of teachers on a regular schedule, based on subject and grade level and paid for by federal funds, the teacher receiving their regular salary during such training

• Allegations brought against any public school employee shall be investigated and judged by the Department of Education. Proven allegations of bias or abuse shall be grounds for permanent dismissal from all public school employment

• The base pay for new instructors shall be set at a level sufficient to procure a single person the median housing, personal transportation, utilities and personal expenses of the community in which the school is based. Said median levels shall be re-evaluated yearly

• Teachers shall be provided medical, prescription drug, mental health, dental, short and long term disability and life insurance and a 401k

• Raises for experience, subject/s taught, number of classes and time in service shall be negotiated by the teacher or their representative and the local school administration with appeal to the Department of Education

• Administrative salaries will be set by the Department of Education based on local medians, responsibilities and length of service.

10. School resources

• All public school buildings and campuses shall either be purchased or built by the federal government and must meet standards for security and structure established by the Congress

• Schools shall be built or enlarged as necessary by the federal government to meet the population demands of the area served while maintaining maximum class size limits and availability to residents (i.e. minimum travel time for students)

• The maintenance of all public school buildings and campuses shall be the responsibility of the Department of Education

• Local schools shall be funded for basic classes taught, based on reasonable expenses for said classes (salaries, materials, equipment), by the federal government

• Equipment and materials shall be purchased by local schools with whatever assistance is available from the federal government for bulk purchases. These purchases will then be reimbursed by the federal government as they apply to basic classes being taught by the school

• The Department of Education shall appoint an ombudsman and provide that person with an investigative staff to receive allegations and information anonymously

11. Local funding

• Classes outside the basics may be funded and housed in public schools by local funds, the community leasing the classroom space and facilities and providing all teachers, administration, materials and equipment necessary

• The federal government shall provide extra space in all public school buildings and campuses for said classes offered by the local community

12. Minimal Federal control

• The Department of Education shall be responsible for monitoring basic classes to ensure their content, security and the credentials of the teachers teaching them. It will also act as the investigator and arbitrator of all disputes and allegations brought against the federally funded portion of any public school. It shall also be the employer of all teachers and administrative personnel provided for by federal staffing criteria

• The federal government shall not regulate any classes taught, teachers or administrative personnel that are not federally funded unless such regulation is caused by the breaking of federal laws

13. Foreign students

• English as a second language will be provided free of charge for all individuals for whom English is not their native tongue

• Non-resident aliens may take the equivalent of one level of classes (i.e. 4th grade, freshman year of college, etc.) for free provided they can demonstrate the ability to understand and communicate at a high enough level to gain from the courses and can pass the requirement examinations but they may not receive a certificate of graduation without becoming U.S. residents. After that first level they are required to pay for all subsequent classes unless they become U.S. residents

14. Non-traditional education for minors

• To provide a safe and structured environment for minors who do not wish to attend school or want to attend public school against their parent/s or guardian’s wishes, the Department of Education shall create the Children’s Non-traditional Education Program

• Minors who do not wish to attend either public or private school may be enrolled by their parent/s or guardians in the program

• Minors who wish to enroll in the program may enroll themselves with parent/s or guardian’s permission

• Minors who wish to attend public school against their parent/s or guardian’s wishes may enroll themselves in the program

• Minors not attending school will participate in public works projects, appropriate for their age and physical abilities, designed to teach them useful skills and how to adapt to working co-operatively in groups

• Minors attending school will live in a group home with assigned tasks equivalent to those they would receive in a family setting when they are not attending classes

• The first semester/term for any minor entering the program for the first time will be devoted to orientation similar to that encountered in a military boot camp

• As a minor may be suspended or expelled from the program, reinstatement is applied in the same way as #7 above

• Living facilities will be purchased or constructed and maintained by the federal government based on Congressionally mandated specifications for safety, security, personal space and livability. They may range from group homes to the equivalent of military installations dependent on the number of enrollees in a community and space available. Some facilities may be far removed from the enrollee’s original community when space is at a premium, on the enrollee’s request or based on the enrollee’s age group

• Staffing of the facilities shall be done by the Department of Education based on criteria established by Congress with the advice of educators, mental health professionals, military professionals, law enforcement professionals and social engineers. Criteria shall include:

a. Training in psychology and instructional techniques

b. Training and demonstrated ability in appropriate skills to teach and perform the projects involved

c. Demonstrated ability to empathize with their students and apply appropriate motivation to help them adapt

d. Review by their peers during probationary period and on a regular schedule there after

e. Staffing/student ratios will be set based on the project to be performed and the age of the students

f. Group homes will not exceed an occupancy of 5 students

g. Larger facilities will not exceed an occupancy of 100 students

• Staffing and pay shall be the same as #9 above with the changes already noted for criteria

• All enrollees shall receive a clothing allowance, free medical attention, room and board

• All expenses for running this program are the responsibility of the federal government

• The program is not available to foreign nationals

15. Non-tradition education for adults

• In addition to the military services the federal government shall provide a public works program similar to the Children’s Non-traditional Education Program for adults with the exception of group homes for adults who only wish to attend public schools

• All enrollees will work on public works projects in exchange for room, board and a minimal allowance in order to learn a trade and adapt to working co-operatively in groups

• This program is intended for short term enrollment and is not suited to families

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