Comparison of U.S. and European Tracking
Chmielewski states that the “most visible difference between the two types of tracking are organizational and institutional” (2014, p. 295). Course-by-course tracking, the U.S. way, “always occurs within schools” while the European tracking “occurs in physically separate buildings” (Chmielewski, 2014, p. 295). In addition, the course-by-course system ideally readies all students for university, while the academic/vocational tracking determines who goes to university and who is better suited for vocational schools.
Both types of tracking produce differing results regarding achievement gaps between tracks. Achievement gaps between tracks are driven primarily by instructional and curricular differences (Chmielewski, 2014, p. 300). There is limited conclusive research that indicates which system has the higher achievement gap between tracks. …show more content…
Many researchers found that achievement inequality is higher in academic/vocational tracking countries than course-by-course tracking countries. This could be due to inequality within tracks (Chmielwski, 2014, p. 301). Each track has its own personalized curriculum that will prepare students for the track’s designated careers and therefore each track is different from one another. Also, low SES students have a lower probability of being in the high track in academic/vocational tracking system (Chmielwski, 2014, p.317). Once a student is placed in the “high track”, it is predicted that the student will perform similarly to the high SES classmates. Course-by-course tracking systems have significantly lower levels of SES segregation between tracks than academic/vocational tracking systems (Chmielwski, 2014, p. 312). However, a low SES student placed in the “high track” is predicted to achieve significantly lower than the student’s high SES
Chmielewski states that the “most visible difference between the two types of tracking are organizational and institutional” (2014, p. 295). Course-by-course tracking, the U.S. way, “always occurs within schools” while the European tracking “occurs in physically separate buildings” (Chmielewski, 2014, p. 295). In addition, the course-by-course system ideally readies all students for university, while the academic/vocational tracking determines who goes to university and who is better suited for vocational schools.
Both types of tracking produce differing results regarding achievement gaps between tracks. Achievement gaps between tracks are driven primarily by instructional and curricular differences (Chmielewski, 2014, p. 300). There is limited conclusive research that indicates which system has the higher achievement gap between tracks. …show more content…
Many researchers found that achievement inequality is higher in academic/vocational tracking countries than course-by-course tracking countries. This could be due to inequality within tracks (Chmielwski, 2014, p. 301). Each track has its own personalized curriculum that will prepare students for the track’s designated careers and therefore each track is different from one another. Also, low SES students have a lower probability of being in the high track in academic/vocational tracking system (Chmielwski, 2014, p.317). Once a student is placed in the “high track”, it is predicted that the student will perform similarly to the high SES classmates. Course-by-course tracking systems have significantly lower levels of SES segregation between tracks than academic/vocational tracking systems (Chmielwski, 2014, p. 312). However, a low SES student placed in the “high track” is predicted to achieve significantly lower than the student’s high SES