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Public School Policies

From unions to vouchers, school budgets to discipline policies, we cover some of the most controversial issues affecting public schools today. Learn more about education reform and how it impacts your family. Keep current on the latest controversies regarding religion, sex-education, civil rights and more.

View the most popular articles in Public School Policies:

<麻豆果冻传媒 class="amc-article-title amc-mr-title">Do Expulsion and Suspension Work in Public Schools?
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Do Expulsion and Suspension Work in Public Schools?
We examine a recent study on the effectiveness of expulsion and suspension as school disciplinary measures, and alternatives some schools are implementing to keep students in line.

School districts across the country have recently brought disciplinary measures by schools into focus, in an effort to determine the best way to address discipline problems in schools today. While the large majority of school districts still favor methods like suspension and expulsion for a wide range of infractions, evidence continues to show these methods are not the most effective option. Should suspension and expulsion be used in public schools today? And if these methods are not appropriate, what are the alternatives? Check out ways some experts and school officials are approaching the issue of discipline in public schools.

The Cost of Discipline

One survey recently conducted on discipline in public schools weighed the cost of such procedures. The non-profit organization Texas Appleseed recently released its findings after surveying 11 school districts in Texas to determine how much is spent on disciplinary programs and school security. According to the , the survey found that those school districts, which make up about one-fourth of all Texas schools, spend around $227 million annually on disciplinary procedures and security. This number includes spending on expulsions, suspensions, policing and alternative schools.

The survey comes at a time when Texas schools are facing significant funding cuts from the state. It was also released in anticipation of a senate meeting involving how to deal with problematic students in public schools. The survey was meant to open discussion on the most effective, and most budget-friendly, ways to deal

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<麻豆果冻传媒 class="amc-article-title amc-mr-title">What are Common Core Standards and Why Do We Need Them?
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What are Common Core Standards and Why Do We Need Them?
With schools nationwide adopting common core standards, we鈥檒l take a look at what they are, their benefits, and how they will change the face of public education.

In the efforts to ramp up the public education system in the United States, new national standards have been proposed to be the next logical step. In the past, standards were left up to individual states, which created huge variances in what and how children were taught. It also created disparities when it came to preparing students for higher education. Something had to be done, educators and lawmakers decided. Hence, common core standards were born.

What are Common Core Standards?

Common core standards were developed by the and the . Standards were developed with input from educators and administrators from around the country. The standards focus on English Language Arts and Mathematics, but standards span across other core subjects taught in public schools from kindergarten to 12th grade. Common core standards are now in place for pre-kindergarten instruction to ensure every student is fully prepared to enter public school.

According to the Common Core State Standards Initiative website, the standards are designed to provide students with the appropriate knowledge and skills throughout their K-12 education. Key features of the core standards initiative include:

  • Easy to understand and consistent
  • Build on current standards for individual states
  • Are competitive with standards in other top-performing countries
  • Line up with current expectations for college and the workforce
  • Include rigorous content and knowledge application
  • Are evidence-based for easy assessment

states that these common

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<麻豆果冻传媒 class="amc-article-title amc-mr-title">The Ongoing Debate Over School Vouchers
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The Ongoing Debate Over School Vouchers
We cover the recent voucher drama in Indiana, where ad campaigns are being launched to persuade students to stay in public schools. However, the real question is how well are vouchers truly serving students?

School vouchers are a source of debate between public and private schools nationwide, but nowhere is the debate more acutely felt than in Indiana. Indiana is home to one of the largest voucher programs in the country, and many are waiting to see whether this program delivers on all of its promises. Vouchers are also a major point of contention in places like Wisconsin and Louisiana, where schools are fighting for students and parents are waiting to see if the benefits of school choice will come to fruition. Do vouchers improve the quality of education for all students? With inconclusive test results, the jury appears to be out still. However, that doesn鈥檛 change the intensity with which both sides fight for the type of education system they believe is best.

Competition Heats Up in Indiana

The Indiana voucher system is getting bigger this year, and public schools nationwide are feeling the heat. reports that the new voucher system first passed the Indiana legislature in 2011, and the hundreds of students who left public schools for private pastures last year could turn into thousands of students this year. Public schools are turning to advertising and door-to-door campaigning to keep kids in their neighborhood schools and funding in the public school system.

Currently, more than 8,000 students in Indiana have applied for the voucher program for the upcoming school year. There is room for as many as 15,000 students to take advantage of

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<麻豆果冻传媒 class="amc-article-title amc-mr-title">Prestigious High School in Virginia Faces Civil Rights Lawsuit
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Prestigious High School in Virginia Faces Civil Rights Lawsuit
A recent lawsuit filed by the NAACP against Thomas Jefferson High School alleges the school discriminates against minority students that are not properly identified as 鈥済ifted鈥 racially by the Fairfax school district.

A question over equality at a top-rated high school in the Fairfax School District in Virginia has once again raised the question of the equality of public education overall in the United States. Thomas Jefferson High School, frequently ranked as one of the top public schools in the country, has recently come under fire by the Coalition of the Silence and the NAACP. The organizations have raised concerns about the low enrollment of minority students into the school, particularly in light of the much higher rate of diversity in schools just a few miles away. However, as one digs into the question of racial inequality at Thomas Jefferson High School, concerns extend into whether minority students in Fairfax County are given the same academic opportunities as their caucasian counterparts.

This TEDTalk discuss racial discrimination in public schools.

Federal Civil Rights Complaint Filed

A federal civil rights lawsuit has been filed with the U.S. Department of Education regarding Thomas Jefferson High School鈥檚 admission policies. The complaint alleges that Fairfax County 鈥溾ssentially operates a network of separate and unequal schools,鈥 which leaves out Latinos, blacks, and disabled students. The complaint further alleges that 鈥渇or decades, these students have been grossly and disproportionately underrepresented in admission to the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.鈥

The civil rights complaint was filed by the Coalition of Silence, an advocacy group formed by

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<麻豆果冻传媒 class="amc-article-title amc-mr-title">Failure to Read Now Grounds for Lawsuit? ACLU Says Yes
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Failure to Read Now Grounds for Lawsuit? ACLU Says Yes
The ACLU has filed a lawsuit against some Michigan schools, alleging the district failed to ensure children can read at appropriate grade levels. The dire straits in which this school district is operating is shocking, to say the least.

Students in the Highland Park School District in Michigan are consistently failing at one of the foundational skills necessary for a productive academic and professional life 鈥 the ability to read. With a concerning number of students within the district reading well below grade level, the ACLU has decided to take matters in its own hands. The organization has filed eight lawsuits against the school district and the state of Michigan on behalf of students and their parents. The charge? Failure to teach children to read.

This video explains reading levels.

Obscure Law Fuels Lawsuit Fire

According to the , the ACLU has filed a class-action lawsuit in Wayne County Circuit Court. The lawsuit alleges that the school district and the state have failed to do their job in ensuring students within the Highland Park School District can read at grade level. The lawsuit further asserts that although students are supposed to be provided with 鈥渟pecial assistance鈥 if they don鈥檛 make grade-level proficiency in grades four and seven, these students were not given any additional help to bring their reading skills up to par.

The lawsuit calls on an obscure law on the Michigan books known as the 鈥渞ight to read鈥 provision. This law enacted by the state legislature in 1993 states, 鈥淎 pupil who does not score satisfactorily on the 4th or 7th-grade MEAP reading test shall be

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麻豆果冻传媒 Articles

What Is A Charter School?
What Is A Charter School?
Explore the world of charter schools in this comprehensive guide. Learn about their history, how they operate, and the pros and cons of this educational innovation. Discover key facts about charter schools, including admission policies, demographics, and funding, as well as what to look for when considering a charter school for your child.
10 Reasons Why High School Sports Benefit Students
10 Reasons Why High School Sports Benefit Students
Discover the 10 compelling reasons why high school sports are beneficial for students. This comprehensive article explores how athletics enhance academic performance, foster personal growth, and develop crucial life skills. From improved fitness and time management to leadership development and community representation, learn why participating in high school sports can be a game-changer for students' overall success and well-being.
Understanding the U.S. Department of Education: Structure, Impact, and Evolution
February 05, 2025
Understanding the U.S. Department of Education: Structure, Impact, and Evolution
We explore how the Department of Education shapes American education, from its cabinet-level leadership to its impact on millions of students, written for general audiences seeking clarity on this vital institution.

Public School Policies

EDUCATION REFORM
Education reform is in the works, and you can stay updated on the latest changes, debates, and policies here. Learn more about No Child Left Behind and how it impacts your child. Explore how federal and state government is working to improve school performance, student achievement and education standards.
TEACHERS AND UNIONS
A comprehensive look at teachers, tenure, and unions. Learn how unions impact school performance. Explore the impact of education reform on teaching qualification standards, traditional unions and controversial tenure rules.
PUBLIC SCHOOL BUDGETS
We offer an overview of public school budgets; where the money comes from, how it鈥檚 spent and what schools are doing to get more funding. Learn how schools are cutting budgets and how the cuts will impact your child. Delve into some of the creative ways school districts are trying to raise money and where the extra money is spent.
VOUCHERS
Explore both sides of the school voucher debate. Learn what your options are, how those choices are funded and the impact on your local school district. From the latest government initiatives to results from recent studies, explore vouchers and the options they provide.
SCHOOL DISCIPLINE POLICIES
Examine the various discipline methods being put to use in public schools. From detention to expulsion, spanking to handcuffing, school discipline can often be controversial. Does spanking work? Do police belong in schools? Learn more about what is being done to punish out of control students.
SCHOOL CONTROVERSIES
The most controversial issues impacting public school students today. From bullying to book bans, this is a comprehensive look at some of the most oft-debated issues. This section features articles on school segregation, religion, over-crowding, civil rights, and green technology.