17. Arrange the sentences according to the text.

1. Approximately 60% of the students who graduates from secondary schools attends colleges and universities.

2. Advanced courses prepare students for university or college study.

3. The quality of education declined in the early 1980s.

4. Students attend elementary schools, then junior high schools and at last secondary schools.

5. Corporations have given grants to universities to improve teacher education.

6. Children start nursery schools at age of four or under.

7. Many parents are involved in working for better quality education.

8. Students may attend either public schools or private schools.

9. The states spend money on private schools and provide free public education.

10. Most of public high schools have computers.

11. School attendance is required in all 50 states.

12. Most states passed new more demanding standards.

13. Vocational courses prepare students to perform specific jobs.

14. In different states students leave school at different age.

1. Business organizations, realizing that their future employees needed skills that could be learned in schools, pitched in to help.

18. Complete the following sentences according to the text.

1. Students attend elementary schools …

2. Students may attend …

3. School attendance …

4. The US leads …

5. The quality of education …

6. Most states have passed …

7. Business organizations offered …

8. Educators believe …

9. Average scores on …

10. Special education …

11. Parents …

19. Match the school with its description.

1. junior high school	a free tax-supported school controlled by a local governmental authority
2. secondary school	B. a school especially in the United States usually including grades 9–12 or 10–12 serving students approximately 13 (or 14 or 15) through 18 years of age.
3. public school	C. a school usually including grades seven to nine following elementary school and preceding high school. Children served there are approximately 12 to 15 years old
high school	A school intermediate between elementary school and college and usually offering general, technical, vocational, or college-preparatory courses This school serves students approximately 13 (or 14 or 15) through 18 years of age. Often in four-year schools the different levels are designated, in ascending order, freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior.

20. Read the information and fill in the chart below the text.

The American system of school education differs from the systems in other countries. There are state public schools, private elementary schools and private secondary schools. Public schools are free and private schools are fee-paying. Each state has its own system of public schools.

Elementary education begins at the age of six or seven, when a child goes to the first grade (form). At the age of sixteen schoolchildren leave the elementary school and may continue their education at one of the secondary schools or high schools, as they call them. The programme of studies in the elementary school includes English, Arithmetic, Geography, History of the USA, Natural sciences and, besides, Physical Training, Singing, Drawing, wood or metal work, etc. Sometimes they learn a foreign language and general history.

Besides giving general education some high schools teach subjects useful to those who hope to find jobs in industry and agriculture or who wants to enter colleges or universities. After graduating from secondary schools a growing number of Americans go on to higher education.

The students do not take the same courses. During the first two years they follow a basic programme. It means that every student must select at least one course from each of the basic fields of study: English, Natural sciences, Modern languages, History or Physical education. After the first two years every student can select subjects according to his professional interest.

The National Government gives no direct financial aid to the institutions of higher education. Students must pay a tuition fee. This creates a finantial hardship for some people. Many of the students have to work to pay their expenses.

Americans place a high value on education. That's why Kennedy said, "Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education".

The American system of school education differs from the system in some countries. There are state-supported public schools, private elementary schools, and private secondary schools. Public schools are free and private schools are fee-paying. Each individual state has its own sys-tem of public schools. Elementary education begins at the age of six with the first grade and continues up to the eighth grade. The elementary school is followed by four years of the secondary school or high as it is called. In some states the last two years of the elementary and the first years of the secondary school are combined into a junior high school. Besides giving general education, some high schools teach subjects useful to those who hope to find jobs in industry and agriculture. Some give preparatory education to those planning to enter colleges and universities.

Age	Type of school	Grade	Subjects and Skills