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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">How Much Does It Cost to Educate a Child?
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How Much Does It Cost to Educate a Child?
Every year, standardized tests reveal that public school performance is woefully low. Yet you pay taxes to fund public education, so where does that money go? Keep reading to find out how much it really costs to educate your child.

When you think of how your child鈥檚 education is going to cost, you probably think of the expenses you cover yourself. From school books and uniforms to daily lunches, transportation to and from school, and extra educational materials at home, the costs add up quickly. But what about the costs you don鈥檛 cover? Things like teacher salaries, school maintenance and repairs, taxes, and more 鈥 someone has to pay these costs, but who?

If your child attends public school, it is likely that the majority of the cost of his education will be shouldered by the government (federal and state as well as local). One might argue that your taxes pay for a portion of those costs, but it is nowhere near the thousands of dollars it actually takes to send your child to public school for a year.

Depending on where you live and the quality of the local education system, you may be wondering just where all of that money goes. In this article, we鈥檒l discuss the average annual cost to educate a student in different states as well as some of the ways your tax dollars are spent.

This video from The Cato Institute examines the cost of public K-12 education.

Annual Costs for Public Education by State

Spending varies drastically for public education from one part of the country to another. The biggest spender is New York, shelling out over $20,000

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<麻豆果冻传媒 class="amc-article-title amc-mr-title">An In-Depth Look at Common Core 鈥 What鈥檚 Working and What Isn鈥檛?
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An In-Depth Look at Common Core 鈥 What鈥檚 Working and What Isn鈥檛?
The Common Core State Standards Initiative, more commonly referred to simply as 鈥淐ommon Core鈥, was introduced to help American students graduate from high school better prepared for career and college. But what exactly are these "common core" standards, and are they working?

If you attended a public school in the United States, you have probably taken a standardized test at some point 鈥 probably a lot of them. Testing is one of the most common ways to evaluate the efficacy of an education program, though it may not always be the best way. One of the most well-known education programs that makes heavy use of testing is the .

The Common Core State Standards Initiative, more commonly referred to simply as 鈥淐ommon Core鈥, was introduced in the early 2000s, though many people still have a poor understanding of what it is and how it has affected the nation鈥檚 school systems. This system has been in place for half a decade and yet the jury is still out on whether it works or not.

Whether you have detailed knowledge of what鈥檚 going on in the nation鈥檚 education system or not, you are probably aware that the most recent presidential election has led to some big changes. Keep reading to learn about the history of common core, its future, and whether or not it really works.

This video offers an explanation of Common Core.

A History of Common Core

According to the (CCSSO), the Common Core State Standards Initiative is, 鈥渁 set of high-quality academic standards in mathematics and English language arts/literacy,鈥 also known

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<麻豆果冻传媒 class="amc-article-title amc-mr-title">What are the Biggest Problems Facing the Public School System?
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What are the Biggest Problems Facing the Public School System?
The American public school system is by no means perfect, but is it completely broken? Keep reading to learn about some of the top issues affecting the public school system.

The American public school system is far from perfect, but the list of top issues is constantly changing. Some say that the emphasis on standardized testing is destroying the quality of public education while others believe that schools are too crowded and parents are too uninvolved. The fact of the matter is that each public school system has its own problems depending on where it is located, the local demographics, the amount of funding it receives, and myriad other factors. Keep reading to learn about some of the biggest problems currently facing public high schools in particular.

The Top 3 Issues Affecting Public High Schools

If you were to ask parents from one hundred different school districts about the problems they see with the public school system, you would probably get 100 different responses. Although there are many different problems with the American public school system, recent data collected from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) shows that the academic performance of American students is significantly lower than their international counterparts. School systems are evaluated on a wide variety of factors, but there are some issues that tend to fly under the radar which still have a significant impact. Here are the top three.

1. Students don鈥檛 spend enough time in school.

The requirement for the number of school days varies slightly from one state to another. Currently, thirty of the U.S. states have a 180-day calendar 鈥 this requires students to be in school for approximately

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<麻豆果冻传媒 class="amc-article-title amc-mr-title">Are Service Dogs Too Distracting in a School Environment?
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Are Service Dogs Too Distracting in a School Environment?
Students with disabilities may require the assistance of a service dog, but how might the presence of a dog in the classroom affect other students? Could it be too distracting?

There is a special bond between children and their dogs but, for some children, a dog is more than just a best friend 鈥 he is an assistant for everyday tasks. Children with certain diseases and disabilities sometimes need the help of a service dog just to get through their day. The service dog accompanies them everywhere they go 鈥 even to school. While a service dog may be a necessity for the student he serves, it is possible he could become a distraction for other students. But where do you draw the line?

In today鈥檚 modern society, distractions are everywhere. Cell phones and tablets are being given to younger and younger children as society as a whole becomes progressively more reliant on technology. But what determines whether something is too distracting? When it comes to service dogs, there are some legitimate concerns regarding allergies and fears that some students may have, but are these concerns more legitimate than the student鈥檚 need for the service dog? Keep reading to learn more about this issue.

What Exactly Do Service Dogs Do?

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the definition of a service animal is, 鈥渁ny dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability鈥. Some of the tasks a service dog can perform might include pulling a wheelchair, picking up dropped items, reminding someone to take

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<麻豆果冻传媒 class="amc-article-title amc-mr-title">The Pros and Cons of Tracking in Schools
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The Pros and Cons of Tracking in Schools
Tracking was once the standard of public education in the United States but today there is a great deal of controversy regarding its relevance. Consider the pros and cons of tracking to decide whether it might be a good option for your child.

The fact of the matter is that some students learn more quickly than others and some students need more individualized attention. In order to accommodate the differing needs of their students, many schools started to adopt a tracking system, separating students by academic ability into different groups for certain subjects or for all subjects. This type of program is sometimes called ability grouping (though these are technically two different things) and it is a hotly debated issue in public schools. Before you decide whether tracking might be a good option for your child, take a moment to learn what it is as well as the pros and cons of this type of system.

What is Tracking or Ability Grouping?

Also referred to as phasing or streaming, tracking is a system in which students are divided into classes based on their overall achievement. Students are ranked as being average, normal, or below average and they are divided into classes with students of the same achievement level. Tracking has been used in American public schools for nearly a century and it has changed and developed a great deal during that time. In the early years, tracking was a response to growing numbers of immigrant children coming into the public school system. The goal was to provide those children with an education that was catered to their limited understanding of the English language and their limited preparation, as compared to native students. What ended up happening, however, was a form of

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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.