Middle Level Curriculum in United States Public Schools: A Status Report

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 4:15 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Mapping the Field: Trends, Frameworks, and Global Perspectives in Middle Level Research

Abstract

In response to the Middle Level Education Research (MLER) SIG’s research agenda (Brinegar et al., 2024), we examined middle level curriculum across the United States by investigating how curriculum is developed and implemented. Using a qualitative content analysis of data from department of education websites for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, we found that much middle level curriculum is influenced by state content standards aligned with national standards and implemented often at the school district level, creating a wide variety of content-specific curricula in middle schools. We’ll share implications for practice and research.

Authors

• Amanda Wall, Georgia Southern University

• Steven B. Mertens, Illinois State University

• James F. Nagle, Saint Michael's College

• Christopher S. Weiler, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

• Stacie Kae Pettit, Georgia College & State University