Hello everyone, my name is Cao Lam Bao Chau and I’m the 2nd member of group 8.

I’m going to talk about the next part of our presentation. It’s the educational ladder and types of sch

THE EDUCATIONAL LADDER

Americans view their public school system as an educational ladder, rising from elementary school to high
school and finally college undergraduate and graduate program.
Most children start school at age 5 by attending kindergarten, or even at age 3 or 4 by attending preschool
programs.
Then usually there are 5 to 6 years of elementary school, 2 or 3 years of middle school, and 4 years of high
school.
School systems may divide the twelve years a bit differently, usually depending upon school-age population,
but all do have 12 years of elementary, middle school, and senior high school).
After high school, the majority of students go on to college/university.

Age School Level

3
Preschool Pre-K
4
5 Kindergarten K
6 1st
7 2nd
THE AMERICAN
8
Elementary school or Primary
3rd SCHOOL SYSTEM
school
9 4th
10 5th
11 6th
Middle
12 school Intermediate 7th
13 (Junior High school 8th Student
school)
14 9th Freshman Examinations/Degrees
15 10th Sophomore
Senior High High school
16 11th Junior High school Diploma
school
17 12th Senior
1st year:
18
Community Freshman year
College 2nd year: Associate Degree or
19
Sophomore year Certificate
Undergraduate
University or College 3rd year: Junior
20
year
4th year: Senior
21 Bachelor’s Degree
year
22 (Post)graduate Master’s Degree
Ages Doctor of Philosophy
 (Ph.D.)
vary
Vocational school

We’ll move to the k12 education system

I. K-12 education system

K-12 is a term used in education and educational technology in the United States, Canada, and possibly
other countries. It’s a short form of the publicly-supported school grades before college. These grades are
kindergarten (K) and the 1st through the 12th grade.

Early education is the term used to talk about young children being exposed to education. Even when the
child is a baby, it’s important to read to them, sing with them, and help them learn their first language and
English.
The early education services are delivered via preschools and kindergartens.

1. Preschool
- Preschool helps children (ages 3 and 4) develop. Some schools will start children in preschool at 2 ½.
- Preschool helps them be ready for school at age 5 or 6.
- One option for preschool is called Head Start. Preschool-aged children from low-income families can
attend Head Start programs. It’s a low-cost preschool run by the government. People can search for a Head
Start program near them.

2. Kindergarten
- In the United States, kindergartens are usually part of the K-12 educational system.
- Children usually attend kindergarten around age 5 or 6.
- It’s considered the first year of formal education, although the child may have gone to preschool.
- While kindergarten was viewed as a separate part of the elementary program, it is now fully
integrated into the school system and is a full participant in schooling.
- According to a primer by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, a high-
quality kindergarten should address learning in several categories:
 Physical development
 Social development
 Emotional development
 Language and literacy
 Thinking and cognitive skills
- Subjects like math, reading, writing, science, social studies, and art are also offered in high-quality
kindergartens.
- (?): Is it compulsory to send your child to kindergarten?
 All states offer kindergarten, and 19 of those states require that children turn 5 years old by September
1st to enroll (For example Alabama, Alaska, California, Florida, etc.)
- However, kindergarten attendance is not required in most states. In 42 states compulsory school
attendance starts at age 6 or later.

3. Elementary school (Primary school)

- - An elementary school is a primary school that is the main point of delivery of primary education in
the United States, for children between the ages of 5 to 11 and coming between pre-kindergarten and
secondary education.
- Primary education tends to focus on basic academic learning, vocational skills, and socialization skills,
introducing children to the broad range of knowledge, skill, and behavioral adjustment they need in life –
and, particularly, in secondary school.
- In general, the student learns basic arithmetic and sometimes rudimentary algebra in maths, English
proficiency (such as basic grammar, spelling, and vocabulary), and fundamentals of other subjects.
 - Learning standards are identified for all areas of a curriculum by individual States, including those for
mathematics, social studies, science, physical development, the fine arts, and reading.

4. Middle school (Junior High school)

- Middle schools, or junior high schools, are schools that span grades 5, 6, or 7 through 8 or 9.
- Upon arrival in middle school or junior high school, students begin to enroll in class schedules where
they can take classes from several teachers on a given day. The classes are usually a set of 4 or 5 core academic
classes (English or “language arts”, science, mathematics, history or “social studies”, and in some schools,
foreign language) with 2 to 4 other classes, either electives, supplementary or remedial academic classes.
- Some students also take a foreign language or advanced math and science classes in middle school.
Typically schools will offer Spanish and French, and, often German, and, sometimes Latin, Chinses, Japanese,
or Greek. In addition to Pre-Algebra and other high school mathematics prep courses, Algebra I and
Geometry are both commonly taught. Schools also offer Earth Science, Life Science, or Physical Science
classes. Physical education classes (also called PE, phys ed, Kinesiology, or gym) are usually mandatory for
various periods. For social studies, some schools offer U.S. History, Geography, and World History, classes.
- Most also have “honors” classes for motivated and gifted students, where the quality of education is
higher and much more is expected from the enrolled student.
- Successful completion of middle school or junior high school leads to entry into high school or senior
high school.

5. High school (Senior High school)

- High schools, or senior high schools, are schools that span grades 9 or 10, through 12.
- Most American high schools are comprehensive high schools and accept all students from their local
area, regardless of ability or vocational/college track.
- Students have significant control of their education and may choose even their core classes, although
the control given to students varies from state to state and school to school.]
- The schools are managed by local school districts rather than by the central government.
- Some states and cities offer special high schools with examinations to admit only the highest
performing students, such as Boston Latin School or Alexandria, Virginia’s Thomas Jefferson High School.
- Some schools have been set up for students who do not succeed with normal academic standards;
while others, like Harvey Milk High School, have even been created for special social groups such as LGBT
students.
- Most states operate special residential schools for the blind and deaf, although a substantial number of
such students are mainstreamed into standard schools. Several operate residential high schools for highly
gifted students in specialized areas such as science, mathematics, or arts. A smaller number of high schools
are operated by the Department of Defense on military bases for children of military personnel.
- Similar to middle school, most high schools have “honors” classes.
- Some high schools offer Regular Honors (H) – sometimes called Advanced, Advanced Placement
(AP), or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, which are special forms of honors classes.
- International schools offering programs of study in line with foreign systems of Education, such as
those of Britain and France, are also available.
- Some schools also offer dual-enrollment programs, in which select classes at a university may be taken
for both university and high school credit.
- Graduation from high school or senior high school leads to the awarding of the high school diploma.

THE AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA:

- is a certificate awarded to students when they complete high school.
- There is no national curriculum in the US, although states, school districts, and national associations
do recommend that certain standards are met and guidelines followed.
- Each state sets the requirements for the high school diploma. Students are assessed throughout each
semester with tests, exams, essays, homework assignments, classroom preparation, group work, projects, and
attendance, and given a final ‘grade’ for each course at the end of the semester.
- Parents are sent a ‘report card’ with the grades achieved in each subject at the end of each quarter,
semester, or year. Marks are given as letters (A+, A, B+, etc.) or a percentage. These marks will result in a
Grade Point Average (GPA). The grading system is not standardized across school districts. However, in
general, they are:
  A grade – excellent level – 4 points
 B grade – above average – 3 points
 C grade – average – 2 points
 D grade – below average – 1 point
 F – failure – 0 points (a student that fails a required course must take it again)
- A student’s high school GPA represents their accumulated grades throughout high school. It is
calculated by adding the total of all points earned for each course, then dividing the total points by the
total number of courses taken. Additional points may be awarded for extra work done in honors, AP, or IB
courses.
- When applying for university, a student's GPA is taken into consideration and there are also
admissions tests, such as the SAT and the ACT.

6. Higher education
- Higher education is an optional stage of formal learning following secondary school. Higher
education is also referred to as post-secondary school education, third-stage, third-level, or tertiary education.
- The word college is used to refer to a small school that does not offer graduate degrees or to a 2-year
community college.
- University is used for large schools that offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Universities
often call the divisions within them colleges (as in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences of the
University of Maryland, Baltimore County)
- In the United States, there is a nationwide assumption that students who have completed secondary
school should have at least 2 years of university education. Hence, a great number of “junior colleges” and
“community colleges” have sprung up to provide 2 years of undergraduate study, in contrast to the
traditional universities and colleges, where a majority of students complete 4 years of study for a degree and
where substantial numbers go on for one to three years of postgraduate study in a “graduate school”.
- In the American system, the four-year, or “bachelor’s,” degree is ordinarily obtained not by passing a
“finals” examination but rather by the accumulation of course “credits,” or hours of classroom study. The
quality of work done in these courses is assessed using a continuous record of marks and grades in a course
transcript. The completion of a certain number (and variety) of courses with passing grades leads to the
“bachelor’s” degree. The first two years of a student’s studies are generally taken up with prescribed courses
in a broad range of subject areas, along with some “elective” courses selected by the student. In the third and
fourth years of study, the student specializes in one or perhaps two subject fields. Postgraduate students can
pursue either advanced studies or research in one of the many graduate schools, which are usually
specialized institutions. At these schools, students work toward either a “master’s” degree (which involves
one to two years of postgraduate study) or a doctoral degree (which involves two to four years of study and
other requirements).

ASSOCIATE DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE

- In the US, associate degrees are usually earned in 2 years or more and can be attained at community
colleges, technical colleges, vocational schools, and some colleges, as well as at some universities.
- A student who completes a 2-year program can earn an Associate of Arts/Associate in Arts (AA) or an
Associate of Science/Associate in Science (AS) degree.
o AA degrees are usually earned in the liberal arts and sciences such as humanities and social
science fields
o AS degrees are awarded to those studying in applied scientific and technical fields and
professional fields of study.
- Generally, one year of study is focused on college-level general education, and the second year is
focused on the area of discipline.
- Students who complete a 2-year technical or vocational program can often earn an Associate of
Applied Science/Associate in Applied Science (AAS), although sometimes the degree name will include the
subject.
- Transfer admissions in the United States sometimes allows courses taken and credits earned on an
AA, AS, or AAS course to be counted toward a bachelor's degree via articulation agreements or recognition of
prior learning, depending on the courses taken, applicable state laws/regulations, and the transfer
requirements of the university.[
- Common associate degree titles include:
  Associate of Applied Business (AAB)
 Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
 Associate of Applied Technology (AAT)
 Associate of Arts (AA)
 Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT)
 Associate of Business Administration (ABA)
 Associate of Electrical Engineering Technology (AEET)
 Associate of Electronics (AE)
 Associate of Engineering (AE/AEng)
 Associate of Engineering Technology (AET/AEngT)
 Associate of Forestry (AF)
 Associate of General Studies (AGS)
 Associate of Industrial Technology (AIT)
 Associate of Nursing (AN)/Associate Degree Nurse/Nursing (ADN)
 Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN)
 Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS)
 Associate of Science (AS)
 Associate of Science in Computer Assisted Design (AS-CAD)
 Associate of Technology (AT)

BACHELOR’S DEGREE
- Bachelor's degrees in the United States are typically designed to be completed in four years of full-
time study (with two semesters per year, total eight semesters), although some programs (such as engineering
or architecture) may take five years, and some universities and colleges allow students (usually with the help
of summer school, who are taking many classes each semester or who have existing credit from high
school Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate course exams) to complete them more rapidly. 
- Some US colleges and universities have a separate academic track known as an "honors" or "scholars"
program, generally offered to the top percentile of students (based on GPA), that offers more challenging
courses or more individually directed seminars or research projects instead or in addition to the standard core
curriculum. 

MASTER’S DEGREE
- Once you have completed your undergraduate degree, a Master’s degree program is an excellent way
to dive deeper into a subject area and make yourself even more marketable to a potential employer.
- North America is a great place to continue your higher education at the Master's level. MBA degrees
in the USA and Canada are renowned for giving graduates a huge competitive advantage and unequaled
opportunities in the global job market. A Master's degree is often a professional requirement for a career in
engineering or health sciences.
Length of study
Masters' programs vary in length depending on the number of academic credits that must be completed. A
30-credit program can usually be completed in 12 months. Most Master's degrees are studied for two years.
Some specific professional programs require 60 or more credits for completion (e.g. Master of Science in
Genetic Counseling at Long Island University).
Teaching and learning
 - Unlike undergraduate degrees, where you take a broad range of courses in addition to your major,
graduate degrees are focused on a specific field of study. To complete a Master's degree, in addition to
learning in class, you will usually need to submit a 'thesis', which is a paper on an extended research project. 
- You can choose from several Master's degree programs in the USA. Some of the more popular
programs include business, engineering, management, tourism and hospitality, computing, accounting,
public administration, and more. 

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE (Ph.D. Degree)

- In the United States, the Ph.D. degree is the highest academic degree awarded by universities in most
fields of study. There are 282 universities in the United States that award the Ph.D. degree, and those
universities vary widely in their criteria for admission, as well as the rigor of their academic programs.
- Requirements: Typically, Ph.D. programs require applicants to have a bachelor's degree in a relevant
field (and, in many cases in the humanities, a master's degree), reasonably high grades, several letters of
recommendation, relevant academic coursework, a cogent statement of interest in the field of study, and
satisfactory performance on a graduate-level exam specified by the respective program (e.g., GRE, GMAT).
(GRE: Graduate Record Examinations; GMAT: Graduate Management Admission Test)
- Duration, age structure (US): Depending on the specific field of study, completion of a Ph.D. program
usually takes four to eight years of study after the Bachelor's Degree; those students who begin a Ph.D.
program with a master's degree may complete their Ph.D. degree a year or two sooner. As Ph.D. programs
typically lack the formal structure of undergraduate education, there are significant individual differences in
the time taken to complete the degree. Overall, 57% of students who begin a Ph.D. program in the US will
complete their degree within ten years, approximately 30% will drop out or be dismissed, and the remaining
13% of students will continue on past ten years.
- The median age of Ph.D. recipients in the US is 32 years. While many candidates are awarded their
degrees in their 20s, 6% of Ph.D. recipients in the US are older than 45 years.

7. Vocational education
Vocational education in the United States varies from state to state. Vocational schools are post-secondary
schools that teach the skills necessary to help students acquire jobs in specific industries. The majority of
postsecondary career education is provided by proprietary (privately-owned) career institutions. About 30
percent of all credentials in teaching are provided by two-year community colleges, which also offer courses
transferable to four-year universities. Other programs are offered through military teaching or government-
operated adult education centers
Differences between vocational education and traditional education:
The biggest difference between vocational education and traditional education is the amount of time students
need to complete their education. Most vocational institutions offer programs that students can complete in
about one year and a half to two years. Students attending traditional colleges often take four to complete
their education. Traditional institutions also require students to complete a liberal arts education. Students
must enroll in a broad range of courses that are not necessarily related to their area of study. Vocational
institutions require students to enroll only in classes that pertain to their particular trades.

II. TYPES OF SCHOOL

1. Types of public school

a) Traditional public school

- Public schools are operated by local, state, and federal government funds.
- Traditional public schools need to abide by certain standards.
- Students attend a public school based on where they live and aren’t required to pay tuition.
- The schools themselves must adhere to rules of curriculum, policy, and governance, most of which is
decided at the state and local level.

b) Charter school
- Charter schools offer an institutional hybrid, Like traditional public schools, charter schools are free... .
However, parents must usually submit a separate application to enroll a child in a charter school, and like
private schools, spaces are often limited.
 - Any company, organization or individual can apply for a charter to open a charter school. If the state
grants their charter, the school will receive a certain amount of funding for a limited period of time —
typically 3-5 years. If the school fails to meet performance expectations, their charter is not renewed, and it
closes.
- Teachers and administrators at charter schools have more authority to make decisions than most
traditional public schools, and the cost of that freedom is a constant pressure to perform. A new charter
school could fail to impress the legislature in its first few years and lose funding. On the bright side, this
means a charter school that has been around for a while has proven its worth in achievement several times
over.

c) Magnet school
- Magnet schools specialize in certain areas such as technology, science, or the arts. They are free public
schools operated by school districts or a group of districts.
- Some magnet schools admit students based on achievement, often called “talented & gifted” schools.
Students typically go through rigorous testing and applications to attend. Other magnet schools enroll using a
random lottery and will admit any student who desires to attend.
- Magnet schools tend to be very intentional about maintaining a diverse student population and are
likely to have a waitlist of students trying to enroll. Magnet schools make the extra effort to create a sense of
classroom and school community ... curriculum is also clear and transparent for families so they can more
fully engage in the learning of their students

d) Public virtual (or online) school

- Many public school districts are creating more options for their students by opening virtual options.
This can be confusing since there are also virtual private schools, online classes that can supplement a
traditional brick-and-mortar education, and  virtual classes connected to homeschooling.
- A virtual public school, however, has the same teacher credential requirements, academic
assessments, and management as a traditional public school. Not all virtual programs are alike; it's important
to know the difference between high-quality, full-time, statewide public virtual schools and other programs
that offer simple correspondence or supplemental courses.

2. Types of private school

a) Traditional private school

- Private schools are not funded by the government. That’s why they charge fees to attend. This
separation from government funding gives them the freedom not to follow the national curriculum. A private
school without any other special designation may be categorized as independent. After that, the options are
endless.
- Private schools may be (run by) for-profit businesses, or they may be nonprofit such as those run by
private foundations or religious denominations. In most of these cases, the primary funding for the school
comes from its students. Parents pay tuition for their children to attend.

b) Boarding school
- A boarding school by definition is any school that offers food and lodging to its students.
- A boarding school is a thriving community of scholars, athletes, and artists. To create this community,
most boarding schools require most of their students to live on campus for the school year.
- Intended to go beyond academia alone, these communities offer opportunities for deeper relationships
with faculty and fellow students through all manner of extra-curricular activities all in one place. Faculty,
staff and their families often live on campus and serve in coaching or advising capacities.

c) Language Immersion school

Language immersion schools immerse their students in a second language. Bilingual teachers teach their
classes in the second language to varying degrees. In general, the programs are designed for students whose
native language is English. The Center for Applied Linguistics lists immersion schools under 3 main
categories: total, partial and two-way immersion.
 Total immersion is where all (or almost all) subjects in the lower grades are taught in the foreign
language with English instruction in the older grades.
  Partial immersion is where up to 50% of subjects are taught in the foreign language. In some
programs, the material taught in the foreign language is reinforced in English.
 Two-way immersion programs give equal emphasis to English and a non-English language because
many of their students are native speakers of the non-English language.

d) Montessori school
- Montessori is a way of teaching that honors each child’s individuality and interests. The teacher
prepares the classroom, inviting children to explore and learn through hands-on activities.
- Montessori schools put a great emphasis on exploration. children are encouraged to question and
experience the joy of discovering the world around them through their classroom experience. The curriculum
is very well-rounded. It covers math, language and science as well as sensory-based subjects.
- The classroom communities in a Montessori school are designed to be three year communities. Each
teacher will have the same group of children for three years. this structure gives teachers time to build
relationships with students and their families that personalize and deepen the studied material. 

e) Private Special Education school

- Private special education schools are focused on students with special needs. Often they support
specific learning differences like autism spectrum, brain injury, slower processing speeds, ADHD (Attention-
Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), severe anxiety, or other neurological differences.
- These schools will be better equipped than the average school to meet specialized learning needs for
their students. Teachers, administration, and additional staff like counselors, nurses and academic advisors
are highly informed and tuned into the specific needs of their population. This can be a lifesaver for students
who need more accommodation than the typical school system offers.
- special education schools focused on one area (like autism) can definitely provide better service to
their students, but also that growing students might develop important adaptation and social skills when in
school with a less-focused population.

f) Parochial school
- A parochial school is a religious private school that receives funding from a local church. While other
types of religious schools might have varying degrees of funding from a church, the term parochial indicates
that the school will be partnered with a local church.
- A Catholic private school is financed almost completely by the tuition that is paid for each student in
attendance. If the expenses for running the school go up significantly, the tuition goes up accordingly. A
Catholic parochial school, on the other hand, is an extension of a larger entity, namely the local church.

g) Religious school
- Religious schools are private institutions with a religious affiliation. There are many organizations and
associations within this category to help define the religious school.
- Religious schools are often classified as independent private schools, but are affiliated with an
association. The label of independent became important to his tradition when parochial schools began to stray
from teaching orthodox Catholicism.
- Parents were paying for their kids to learn that much of what Catholicism taught was bunk. At that
point, many schools broke away from the parochial label to set their own standards.

h) Reggio Emilia school

- Loris Malaguzzi, the founder of Reggio Emilia, famously said, “The child has a hundred languages.”
TheNorth American Reggio Emilia Alliance (NAREA) uses this quote as a metaphor for the extraordinary
potential of children and one of the main principles of the Reggio Emilia style of learning.
- Because every child has a hundred languages, teachers keep a record for each of their students that
documents moments of learning, emotion and expression. Emotional documentation and affirmation of many
different kinds of competency in children and adults are two of the distinctive practices in a Reggio Emilia
school.

i) Waldorf school
- All Waldorf schools in the US are nonprofits. A major defining characteristic of Waldorf education is
its view of child development and corresponding curriculum.
 - Teachers in a Waldorf school follow their class through the rising grades. a Waldorf teacher typically
remains with the same class for five to eight years. This allows relationships that position the teacher to assess
long-term development and the children to feel secure and comfortable in their learning environment.
- While the curriculum is very specific in some ways, the reliance on a teacher’s judgment for how to
teach their students is very strong. In a Waldorf school, teachers are fully trusted and empowered to make the
call.

3. Types of Higher education in the U.S.A.

There are a few types of higher education institutions in the U.S. No matter how trivial they may seem, these
institutions have their differences, from physical size, to what part of the curriculum they focus on, and the
time it takes to finish them.

3.1 TYPES OF UNIVERSITIES IN THE USA

Universities are higher education institutions, often referred to as post-secondary education institutions,
which usually last up to 4 years. Although similar in function, universities have their differences when it
comes to core ideals.
From public universities to Ivy League schools, here is what differentiates them and what they have in
common.

a) Public universities
- Public universities are higher education institutions that are funded by public means, meaning they
are state-funded as opposed to private universities. These universities vary in size; however, they are often
bigger than private ones and are characterized by lower tuition costs. 
- Public universities tend to enroll more part-time and commuter students. For many, these universities
are the best option due to their priority, which is finding the most affordable option. However, international
students that wish to enroll will have to pay higher fees than domestic students at such universities.

b) Private universities
- Private universities are not funded by the state government, and they account for a significant number
of enrollments in the U.S. However, due to the fact they’re not funded by taxpayers’ money but rather rely on
primary donations, endowments, and tuition itself, these universities tend to have higher tuition fees than
public universities.
- International and domestic students are equal when it comes to tuition costs in private universities.
Although they’re more costly, many of these institutions offer financial aid or a range of scholarships, which
can either minimize costs or take care of them completely.

c) For-profit private universities

For-profit private universities differentiate from non-profit ones because their aim is not only to educate
students but also to generate revenue for the shareholders and they tend to gravitate towards money-making.
However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that these universities don’t deliver quality education as well. In fact,
there are many for-profit private universities with great curriculums.

d) Non-profit private universities

- Non-profit private universities’ main purpose is not to be the most profitable institution, rather to
offer high-quality education. These institutions generally have a better reputation than for-profit ones due to
their attention being more focused on producing high-quality curriculums and education. 
- Bay Atlantic University (BAU) is one of the non-profit private universities in the U.S. and has
numerous scholarships awarded to both domestic and international students.

e) Research universities
- Research universities can be public and non-profit private universities, which are regarded as
doctorate degree-granting institutions that spend millions in research expenditures and have high research
activities. 
 - There are 131 such institutions in the U.S., which include all eight Ivy League universities and other
highly regarded universities, and many public universities.

f) Ivy League schools

- Ivy League schools consist of eight Northeastern U.S. based universities and is an American collegiate
athletic conference. However, the bond between these universities goes beyond sports, and they are all
regarded for their academic excellence, social elitism, and admission selectivity. 
- The eight Ivy League schools include Harvard University, Princeton University, Brown University,
Dartmouth University, Cornell University, University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, and Yale
University.

3.2 TYPES OF COLLEGES IN THE USA

Colleges, as opposed to universities, will usually take less time to complete, with an average of two years to
graduate. However, there are also numerous four-year colleges, which are often akin to universities. Colleges,
similar to universities, differ from each other and are separated into several kinds. Here are the college types,
what they have in common, and what they don’t.

a) Liberal arts colleges

- Liberal arts colleges are mostly non-profit private colleges (there are several public liberal arts
colleges) that are relatively small in size, and they offer programs in humanities, sciences, and social sciences.
They tend to emphasize an undergraduate and well-rounded education rather than research, and they
generally don’t focus on athletics.
- These colleges will usually offer one expansive area of study instead of breaking one degree into a few
branches. They tend to focus on the more academic side of higher education rather than vocational skills.

b) Community colleges
- Community colleges sometimes referred to as junior colleges, are primarily two-year higher education
institutions. They provide lower-level tertiary education, and they grant associate degrees, diplomas, and
certificates. For the most part, these institutions attract local students and are usually funded by local tax
revenue.
- Many students use community college as a stepping stone to a four-year university or a liberal arts
college. Although the term junior college is used to describe community colleges; junior college refers to
private two-year colleges, whereas community college refers to public two-year colleges.

c) Other colleges
- Other than liberal art colleges and community colleges, there are religious colleges, same-sex colleges,
specialized colleges, art colleges, and for-profit colleges. These colleges can be either public or private, and
often very similar to community colleges in function, but with a specific set of rules that are unique to each
institution.

4. Homeschooling
- Homeschooling is a progressive movement around the country and the world, in which
parents educate their children at home instead of sending them to a traditional public or private
school. Families choose to homeschool for a variety of reasons, including dissatisfaction with the
educational options available, different religious or educational philosophies, and the belief that
children are not progressing within the traditional school structure.
- The homeschooling movement began growing in the 1970s, when some popular authors and
researchers started writing about educational reform. They suggested homeschooling as an
alternative educational option. Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states and in many foreign countries.