Flunked

Last updated
Flunked
Directed byCorey Burres
Written byLauren Zammit
Produced bySteven Maggi
StarringEducators
Narrated by Joe Mantegna
Distributed byZia Film Distributors LLC John McLean Media
Release date
  • March 11, 2008 (2008-03-11)
Running time
46 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Flunked is a 2008 documentary film conceived by and executive produced by Steven Maggi, directed by Corey Burres and narrated by actor Joe Mantegna. It explores problems in the United States public education system and reviews successful education reform solutions in both charter and public schools, letting leading educators tell their stories.

Contents

Synopsis

Flunked studies the relatively poor position of the United States public education system; in the 2015 Programme for International Student Assessment, the country's mean performance was merely average among the OECD member states tested, [1] [2] and according to a 2015 survey of members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, just 16% of them called American K-12 STEM education above average or best. [2] The film also, though, explores some of the system's successes.

The first 20 minutes review many of the system's problems, as well as schools nationwide that prepared students well for college in the 2000s. Based on their high test scores, their graduates seemed capable of working and competing in tomorrow's economy. The documentary shows ways to reform troubled public schools, as well as alternatives to them, including charter schools.

Cast

Reception

Flunked won Best Documentary at the San Fernando Valley International Film Festival in Los Angeles, Best Educational Documentary at the Bayou City Inspirational Film Festival in Houston, the Award of Merit from the Accolade Competition, and the first ever SPNovation Award.

Related Research Articles

Education reform is the name given to the goal of changing public education. The meaning and education methods have changed through debates over what content or experiences result in an educated individual or an educated society. Historically, the motivations for reform have not reflected the current needs of society. A consistent theme of reform includes the idea that large systematic changes to educational standards will produce social returns in citizens' health, wealth, and well-being.

School choice is a term for education options that allow students and families to select alternatives to public schools. It is the subject of fierce debate in various state legislatures across the United States.

Education in the United States is provided in public and private schools and by individuals through homeschooling. State governments set overall educational standards, often mandate standardized tests for K–12 public school systems and supervise, usually through a board of regents, state colleges, and universities. The bulk of the $1.3 trillion in funding comes from state and local governments, with federal funding accounting for about $260 billion in 2021 compared to around $200 billion in past years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charter schools in the United States</span> Taxation-funded privately-run schools

Charter schools in the United States are primary or secondary education institutions that are public schools which are publicly funded and operate independently, rather than being controlled by local school districts. Charter schools have a contract with local school districts or other authorizing bodies which allow them to operate. These contracts, or charters, are how charters schools bear their name. They do not charge tuition, as they are funded with public tax dollars. Charter schools are subject to fewer rules than traditional state schools in exchange for greater accountability. Proponents argue that they are meant to serve underserved communities that wish to have alternatives to their neighborhood school. All charters are tuition free and open to all students, with the vast majority being either freestanding and independent and run as a non-profit organization. However, there are some for-profit management organizations that hold charters, though these are only allowed in Arizona. Only non-profit charters can receive donations from private sources, just the same as traditional public schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Mantegna</span> American actor (born 1947)

Joseph Anthony Mantegna is an American actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Programme for International Student Assessment</span> Scholastic performance study by the OECD

The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is a worldwide study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in member and non-member nations intended to evaluate educational systems by measuring 15-year-old school pupils' scholastic performance on mathematics, science, and reading. It was first performed in 2000 and then repeated every three years. Its aim is to provide comparable data with a view to enabling countries to improve their education policies and outcomes. It measures problem solving and cognition.

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References

  1. "PISA 2015 Results in Focus" (PDF). OECD. 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  2. 1 2 "U.S. students' academic achievement still lags that of their peers in many other countries". Pew Research Center. 2017-02-15. Retrieved 2018-09-13.