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Schooling in North Carolina

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Schooling in North Carolina

When schooling was first created in the US, there were not nearly as many rules. One-room schoolhouses where there were all different kinds of ages and education levels were the norm, and the type of education that was given to students was far different than what they receive today. As education developed and various needs came to light, larger schools were built and students were segregated based on criteria such as age. Separate schooling based on learning ability (special education) was something that came later, but it was eventually developed. The system that is available today is working well in many cases, but there are areas in which it is still failing the students - mainly because there are still too many countries getting ahead of the US in areas such as science and mathematics (Darling-Hammond, 2001; Figlio, 2002). Until the US takes back the number one spot, today's students will be at a disadvantage based on what they are learning and how they can put that education to use in the job market (Collins, 1999; Darling-Hammond, 2001). In North Carolina, as in other states, school attendance is compulsory. In other words, every child who lives in North Carolina must attend school a minimum number of days each year until they reach a set age or until they graduate, whichever comes first. These children can go to private school or be homeschooled (with specific regulations), but they cannot simply be kept out of school. That is

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