Expanded Key Terms

The disparity in academic performance between groups of students.

The achievement gap is a term used to describe the disparity in academic performance between groups of students. Achievement gaps can be caused by a variety of reasons, such as learning disabilities, opportunities to receive additional help, and access to resources outside of school. Achievement gaps highlight disparities in society that individuals experience based on their socioeconomic standing.

Seek to harm, intimidate, or coerce another person.

Bullying involves an individual or group who seeks to harm, intimidate, or coerce another person. Bullying is never appropriate or effective in society and is harmful to individuals and detrimental to developing social bonds. Bullying can happen in any form in any presence. Due to the rise of technology, cyberbullying has become a common practice. Bullying can also involve physical harm, emotional manipulation and/or harm, and more.

A publicly funded independent school established by teachers and community groups under the terms of a charter with a local or national authority. 

Charter schools are public and funded by the government under the terms of a specific charter with a local or national authority. Charter schools are established by teachers and community groups to operate under certain principles and guidance. Charter schools are different from traditional public schools in that they are independent but funded through public means. By comparison, public schools are regulated by the state government and federal government, which mandate what is and is not able to be taught and said.

The electronic form of bullying.

Cyberbullying is a form of bullying that happens online through electronic means. Cyberbullying gained popularity in the early 21st century with the rise of technology and social-based platforms. Cyberbullying gained prominence due to individuals’ ability to remain anonymous and retain a sense of detachment from the bully’s actions. Cyberbullying, like other forms of bullying, have long-term consequences for the aggressor.

A social institution through which society teaches members the skills, knowledge, norms, and values they need to be good members of society.

Educational systems are designed to grow knowledge incrementally from a young age through various stages of academic development. Educational systems often end with adolescence but can continue into adulthood through an individual’s pursuit of a career that results in mastery of a skill. This process involves people learning the skills, knowledge, norms, and values needed to be good members of society. Education is also a vital institution where social norms are taught and understood through explicit rules and learned behavior.

The unofficial and often unintended social and cultural messages that students learn in school.

The term hidden curriculum is the first of the unofficial and unintended social and cultural messages that students learn in school. The education system is a highly social network of interactions where students learn knowledge and skills while picking up social norms and behaviors through observations of peers and mentors. The hidden curriculum refers to the social norms and unintended consequences of the education system that students absorb.

Parents have the opportunity to choose the schools their child(ren) will attend for elementary and secondary education beyond what they are assigned by their district or community.

School choice refers to the ability of parents or children to choose where a child will attend school. School choice is often associated with elementary and secondary education but can occur for an individual of any age. School choice is not given to every individual, as some people may be forced to go to public institutions due to economic constraints or geographic boundaries.

An interrelated system of social roles and social norms organized around the satisfaction of an important social need.

Social institutions are populous and common in society. Social institutions are integrated into various elements of daily life that people intersect with regularly. Examples of these integrations into society include religion, government, and education. Social institutions are physical structures that keep order and stability and teach social norms and regulated behaviors.