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Rigorous High School Gives Underprivileged Students Hope for Future

College is the future dream for many high school students, but that dream is more likely to become a reality for some students than others. Now, high school students in Newark have an option that can help them beat the odds and make that college dream a reality. Bard College has brought its proven track record of success to a Newark high school, offering students the chance to experience the rigors of college academics firsthand within the secure confines of a high school environment.

Bard High School Early College Newark

Bard High School Early College Newark (BHSEC Newark) is the latest in a series of college-based high schools created through Bard College. According to the , this school opened in 2011 as a partnership between the college and Newark Public Schools. BHSEC Newark offers a rigorous, college-level curriculum and traditional high school academics that prepare students for life after high school.

What makes the Newark school unique is its commitment to enrolling students from a diverse range of backgrounds, giving students the chance to excel academically who might not have the opportunity otherwise. Students come from all Newark neighborhoods, including disadvantaged areas like Newark’s West Ward, where drugs and shootings are almost a way of life for the young residents of the community. The reports that BHSEC Newark is positioned across the street from a tire shop

Once children have graduated from diapers and baby food, the next big decision for parents becomes where to send their precious tots to school. There are many choices available to parents today, from the neighborhood school down the street to charter and private schools in the area. How does a parent know which school will be the best fit for his child? The choice is never easy, but it helps to weigh the pros and cons of each of these types of schools to see which might present the greatest benefit.

Cost

One of the first variables parents must weigh when comparing the various types of schools is cost. Public schools are “free” institutions by law, although they may charge fees and students may be required to provide their own supplies. Charter schools are also considered public schools, so there is no tuition cost assessed. However, private schools can – and do – charge tuition to students and their parents, and in some cases, those costs can be rather high.

According to a report at , the average tuition cost for private secondary schools during the 2007-2008 school year was around $10,500. also cites statistics from the National Catholic Education Association that show while private parochial schools tend to charge lower tuition rates, the average tuition for these schools is still around $2,600 for elementary schools and nearly $7,000 for secondary schools.

Enrollment

Public schools are required to accept

The governance of public schools is a rather complex issue that incorporates various government entities at the federal, state, and local levels. In theory, these multiple levels should create a tapestry that addresses the needs of students at the most local level without sacrificing education quality across the country. While the model doesn’t always work as planned, the checks and balances system provides a mostly workable national education system that crosses state and district lines. Learn more about the basics of public school governance in the United States today.

Federal Oversight

The federal government is responsible for four essential functions in public education today, according to the website. Those four functions include:

• Policies related to Education Funding – These policies can promote specific education reform by offering additional funding to states and districts that choose to abide by federal standards. explains that the current administration is attempting to do just that, by providing competitive grants through the Race to the Top program. States that align with Race to the Top standards and recommendations stand to receive additional funding from Uncle Sam.

• Collection of Data and Research – This information is used to identify the strengths and weaknesses in the current state of public education. By identifying weaknesses in public education, states can draft new policies to close the gaps and improve education quality overall.
• Identification of Problems in Education at the National Level – By focusing on learning

Students in the public school system in the United States are eligible for a variety of services, depending on their needs. Under Title I, students in need are provided with additional assistance to promote their success in school and beyond. Title I funding is provided to more than 90 percent of the school systems across the country, with the money used in various ways to help low-income students break the cycle of poverty with the tools they need for academic success.

What is Title I?

Title I is one of the oldest public education programs in the United States and one of the largest. The program provides additional funding to school districts with a large population of low-income students to help students in this demographic meet the academic standards assigned by the state. The program was established as Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, and its purpose is to “ensure that all children have a fair, equal and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education,” according to the U.S. Department of Education website.

This brief video gives us an overview of Title I.

The Department of Education also lists strategies that local school districts should implement to achieve that purpose with the provided funding, which include:

• Meeting the educational needs of low-income and minority students
• Holding schools and governments accountable for the academic achievement of students
• Use of tools, assessments, and

Public education in the United States has evolved into a complex maze of options designed to address a wide range of student needs and learning styles. However, the many choices can also make it challenging for parents to weed through and understand the various options available to them and their children. To help break it down, check out this list of some of the more common options in public schooling today.

Neighborhood Schools

The traditional community school continues to be the most common type of institution of public education today. Public schools in a district are typically zones, so those living in the community know which school they are assigned. Neighborhood schools allow students the opportunity to make friends with classmates right in their area. In some districts, parents can enroll their children in a school outside their immediate neighborhood if the chosen school is closer to the parent’s workplace or if the parent wants his child to attend a different school.

Charter Schools

Charter schools began to appear in the 1990s, and their presence has consistently grown in all but ten states nationwide. lists the states without current charter laws as Alabama, Kentucky, Maine, South Dakota, Washington, Vermont, West Virginia, Nebraska, Montana, and North Dakota. Charter schools are public schools, but parents choose to send their children to a charter school rather than attend based on district zoning.

Like other schools, charters receive money from taxes and raise private funding. Charter