Education Reform has always been a hot topic in most governments. It is now time that the Empire takes on this responsibility. It is imperative that we are successful where many others have failed. It is time that make a reform that will truly work. I have worked closely with educators on my home planet and even though some of these reforms will cause ripples within the education systems of many planets that are part of the Empire, in the long run I believe that these These reforms are needed to bring our children, our students, and our future up to where they need to be. Article 1: Common Standards
All planets within the Galactic Empire shall have a common set of standards that all students will master at each grade level in the following subjects: Arithmetic, Basic, and Sciences. Each system or planet will create a set of common standards for all social sciences that relate to their own planets. All schools will be mandated to teach all students in year seven, a government approved civics curriculum.
All standards will be created by current educators with varying degrees of experience in their subject areas as well as from as many different planets as possible. Common standards shall be devised by the Imperial Education Committee, a select committee of the Commission for the Preservation of the New Order, to include educators with varying degrees of experience in their subject areas. This will allow for standards that are fair to all students and that will not favor one subgroup over another. Each planet or system of planets will have the freedom to create standards for elective classes as well any Social Sciences that they may offer classes in. This will allow for each planet to teach what they feel is important in their pasts.
Article 2: Common Assessments
Each year, all every student will be given a grade level exit exam. These exit exams will be created by current educators within each of the core subject areas for varying planets and teaching experience, within the guidelines determined by the Imperial Education Committee. In order for a student to move onto the next year, they must pass these standardized tests or prove that they have mastered the standards for that year. This may be done in a number of ways; teachers may keep portfolios of work on each student to prove mastery of standards for that year. Teachers and Professors may also give mini standard assessments within their subject’s periodically during a school year. If students show mastery level on these tests they may not need to take the end of year or course exam depending on their grade level.
Article 3: Accountability
While teachers and professors are normally held accountable for students learning gains (see Article 7), parents and guardians will now also be held accountable for their students learning. If a student is failing any class and the parents/guardians of the student receives aid from any government they must complete education referral forms and file them with the appropriate authorities on each planet. These forms will require guardians to speak with teachers and counselors about their students’ behavior and academic performance. If a guardian refuses to do so all aid will be withdrawn.
If a guardian does not receive aid from a government agency and their student is failing any class or disrupting the learning of another students, the guardian will be forced to shadow their students’ day and complete community service hours within the school.
Students who are a constant disruption to others will be removed from school and parents will need to arrange a private tutor for their learning.
Article 4: Teacher Training
All pre-service teachers will go through a planet approved pre-service training program. If a teacher has gone through one of the planets or Empire’s university or education programs, they will be able to start teaching once all background checks have been cleared. If a candidate is applying from another field, they will need to complete a training program approved by the school system.
All education candidates graduating from an Imperial or Planetary University must be certified in both reading and the teaching of students who Basic is a secondary language (BSL). Any candidate that is hired into a system has two years to complete these requirements if they do not already have them.
Article 5: Scholarships
If students, from any member planet, have performed on grade level for the last four years of their standard education, the government should supply a merit-based scholarship for said student to attend a university or trade school of their choice. This will allow the Empire to be one of the top producers of successful students in the galaxy. Scholarships will be given to students based on the following criteria.
The Imperial Educational Committee, a select committee of COMPNOR, is authorized to change eligibility and funding requirements.
Imperial Academic Scholars Award
Award Amount:
.....100% of tuition and fees
Grade Point Average:
.....3.5 weighted GPA
Required Credits:
.....4 Basic (3 with substantial writing)
.....4 Mathematics (including higher level maths)
.....3 Natural Sciences (2 with substantial labs)
.....3 Social Science
.....2 Foreign Trade Language (A common, merchant language, such as Bocce. Must have two years within the same language)
.....1 Civics Course
Community Service:
.....100 hours, as approved by the school or COMPNOR.
Test Scores:
.....28 on the ICT
Imperial Medallion Scholars Award
Award Amount:
.....75% of tuition and fees
Grade Point Average:
.....3.0 weighted GPA
Required Credits:
.....4 Basic (3 with substantial writing)
.....4 Mathematics (including higher level maths)
.....3 Natural Sciences (2 with substantial labs)
.....3 Social Science
.....2 Foreign Trade Language (A common, merchant language, such as Bocce. Must have two years within the same language)
.....1 Civics Course
.....75 hours, as approved by the school or COMPNOR.
Test Scores:
.....20 ICT
Imperial Gold Seal vocational Scholars Award
Award Amount:
.....75% of tuition and fees
Grade Point Average:
.....3.0 weighted GPA including a 3.5 unweighted GPA in a minimum of 3 Career and Technical Education credits.
Required Credits:
.....4 Basic (3 with substantial writing)
.....4 Mathematics (including higher level maths)
.....3 Natural Sciences (2 with substantial labs)
.....3 Social Science
.....2 Foreign Trade Language (A common, merchant language, such as Bocce. Must have two years within the same language)
.....1 Civics Course
.....3 Career of Technical Courses
Community Service:
.....50 hours, as approved by the school or COMPNOR.
Test Scores:
.....18 ICT
*ICT = Imperial Competence Test
Article 6: The Crin Star Academy for Higher Education
This measure will provide for the creation of a special school on Imperial Center, the Crin Star Academy for Higher Education, that will provide advanced education from winners of major prizes in most fields for the students who score in the top .5 percentile of the test. While we need to educate all of our students we must not ignore those who are the best and brightest among us. We must sponsor their growth because they will in all likely be the future scientists, lawmakers, doctors, and leaders of tomorrow. This education will be free of charge for the students who will be given dormitories and all necessary supplies for their academic future regardless of where they had come from. Their families will also receive a small stipend from the planetary governments or the Empire in instances of great need so there will be no guilt on the part of the student to leave their homes. The Commission for the Preservation of the New Order shall be responsible for appointing the school's administrators.
Article 7: Periodic Reviews
Planets and systems will be required to review their schools at least once per year to make sure that they are meeting the standards set forth by this legislation and that the schools themselves are being properly taken care of. The review should focus on long term structural damage, inefficient or broken power cables, text books on all required subjects, and the equality accommodation, within reason, of all students regardless of with regard to species, gender, sexual preference or religious affiliation. The review shall also include evaluations of teacher performance based on criteria such as the percentage of that teacher's students to pass the grade level exit exam. The Imperial Education Committee may take these criteria into account in making personnel decisions. If the Imperial Education Committee does not receive the required review from a particular planet or system, it shall conduct the review itself.
Article 8: Pledge of Allegiance
Instructors shall be required to lead their students in the following pledge of allegiance at the beginning of each school day: "I pledge allegiance to the Galactic Empire, and to His Majesty, Emperor Palpatine, and the government that he rules, indivisible, with peace and freedom for all."
