What responsibilities do states have concerning education? [br] [originaltext]

In America, education is primarily the responsibility of state and local government.(11)The individual states have great control over what is taught in their schools and over the requirements that a student must meet, and they are also responsible for the funding of schooling. Therefore, there is huge variation regarding courses, subjects, and other activities. Still, there are some common points, as e. g. the division of the education system into three levels: elementary/primary education, secondary education, and post-secondary/higher education.(12 -1)American children start school at the age of five. The first year at school is called kindergarten. Upon completion of fifth grade, American children enrolled in the American education system advance to secondary school, which most commonly consists of a total of seven years.(12-2)Upon completion of twelfth grade, American students are awarded a certificate called the high school diploma. In the American education system, students must have obtained a high school diploma before they are admitted into college or university. These are schools that offer either a two-year degree which is called an associate degree or a four-year degree which is called a bachelor’s degree.(13)Students who have obtained a bachelor’s degree can continue their education by pursuing one of two types of degrees—a master’s degree and a doctorate degree.