Education Public Policy
The Alliance has compiled this set of resources on education public policy from amongst its own offerings as well as those throughout the nonprofit and museum sector.
Alliance Resources
Elementary and Secondary Education
The American Alliance of Museums shares an issue brief on elementary and secondary education. The Alliance supports efforts to promote school-museum partnerships, recognize holders of advanced degrees in museum education as qualified to work directly with students, require greater collaboration between the Department of Education and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), allow nonprofits, including museums, to directly compete for teacher professional development funds, and retain a set of core academic subjects that includes the many subject areas in which museums help teach the curriculum – including English, reading or language arts, mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, arts, history, and geography.
Museums and the Future of Education
The Alliance shares a paper co-authored by CFM director Elizabeth Merritt and Scott Kratz, vice president for education at the National Building Museum, which provides an overview of educational innovation in a broad cross section of U.S. museums, citing selected examples (PDF, 9 pages).
What Teachers Want From Field Trips
Museum explains some of the effects that No Child Left Behind has had on museums, and explores the type of engagement and learning students need and get from museums.
Other Resources
National Association of State Boards of Education
The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) has links to each state’s education agency where museum educators can access state curriculum standards. Museum educators may also find the articles, policy briefs, and reports in the Education Issues section of value.
U.S. Department of Education Research & Statistics
The U.S. Department of Education has information about federal legislation and regulations. It also has research reports and statistics that may be useful to museum educators.