Education

Formal education in the United States is divided into various stages or levels that follow one another somewhat like the rungs of a ladder. Pre-elementary educationis the first rung of the educational ladder. It is followed by elementary education, secondary education, and higher education. Ordinarily, students complete one stage before they continue to the next.

School attendance is compulsory (required) in every state. Thirty-two states require attendance through age 16, nine states and the District of Columbia through age 17, eight states through age 18, and one state through age 14. Many states make exceptions to the age requirements. In17 states, for example, students fulfill the attendance requirements when they graduate from high school, even though they may not have reached the required age. In 16 states, completion of the eighth grade fulfills the requirements under certain conditions.

Pre-elementary education,also called preschool education, is generally designed for children 5 years of age and younger. Its chief aim is to develop the habits, attitudes, and skills that provide readiness for school. Educators believe that children's success in school is greatly influenced by their early educational experiences. Children who develop an interest in learning before they enter elementary school are more likely to do well in school than children who have not developed such an interest

In the United States, about half of all children from age 3 through age 5 attend some kind of pre-elementary school. The schools are of two main types: (1) nursery schoolsand (2) kindergartens.

Many individuals and private organizations and some school systems operate nursery schools. Most nursery schools are designed for children 3 or 4 years old. The children learn to get along in a group supervised by a teacher. They are encouraged to express feelings and Ml is through building, dancing, drawing, playing, singing, and speaking. Some nursery schools use a teaching method developed by the Italian educator Maria Montessori. The Montessori method recommends the use of special teaching materials and learning tasks to help children develop awareness, confidence, and independence.

The federal government sponsors a special type of nursery school program called Head Start. The program has helped set up thousands of nursery schools, or Head Start centers, for young children from low-income families. The centers provide the children with learning experiences they would not have an opportunity to receive at home.Various public and private organizations sponsor nursery schools for the children of working parents. These are called child-care, or day-care, centers. Some child-care centers, however, simply provide care for young children and do not offer planned education.

Most school systems and many private organizations operate kindergartens, intended mainly for 5- and 6-year-olds. Kindergartens offer more advanced activities than do most nursery schools. They help prepare children for the learning experiences that follow in elementary school. See Kindergarten; Nursery school.

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Education in America	\|	Elementary education

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