A Study On The Curriculum Standards And Theirs Implementation In Elementary And Secondary Education

We are facing a "Standards Movemenf'or "Standards-based Reform". Its key words are "curriculum standards"and "curriculum standard implementation". The main idea behind standards-based reform is to develop high quality standards and to use standards to drive systemic changes in a coherent approach.With the evolution during the last 150 years, and especially with the development in the last ten years, the curriculum standards text has turned into a complex system from an originally simple tool for curriculum offerings, and it now has a relatively comprehensive structure and powerful functions to guide and drive reform and development in curriculums. Curriculum standards are now the "thematic strands" for curriculum systems and curriculum activities.The analysis indicates: (1) the development and design of curriculum standards should reflect the needs from society and the era features; (2) curriculum standards carry the ideal and belief in reform and development, setting high goals and expectations ; (3) curriculum standards must be public, with social consensus; (4) the development and design of curriculum standards ought to make preparations for implementation; (5) the development process should be jointed to the implementation process with widespread participations of educators; (6) the development and improvement of curriculum standards is an open and continuous process.Curriculum standard implementation needs to handle the relationship between the curriculum standard text, the education system and the change process. The results of the study demonstrate: (1) the actions for curriculum standard implementation should be based on standards. Educators should think standards as a resource. Actually the structure and quality of curriculum standards are the internal conditions for implementation. (2) Curriculum standard implementation needs to rely on education systems, and simultaneously change and reconstruct the systems. (3) The actions for curriculum standards implementation should be aimed at problems. Problem identification is therefore emphasized. The framework and strategies for actions should also be considered.This dissertation is composed mainly of six chapters. Chapter One begins with an overview on the background and problems of standards-based reform, and shows the necessity and practicality of the study. Chapter Two points out three approaches to the definition of curriculum standards, and examines the historical origin and forms of curriculum standards. Chapter Three deals with the structures and qualities of curriculum standard systems in a comparative analysis. Chapter Four probes into the nature and forms of curriculum standard implementation. Chapter Five, with several frameworks for analysis, provides a brief classification of the factors affecting curriculum standard implementation, and makes a comparative analysis on the problems and obstacles of standards-based reform between the U. S. and P.R.C. Chapter Six gives some statements and explanations to the framework and strategies for actions by applying the results of related researches to the practical situations.