Get help, advice and information on all your Reference and Education issues. http://advice-and.info/Reference-and-Education/city+schools.htm Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:22:41 GMT en It has been 30 years since I was a high school senior, but I had to take the SATs just as 11th and 12th graders do now. I did okay, but not good enough to get into my two first choice schools. Back then, I blamed the SATs and called them unfair, but life went on. I graduated happily in four years from the school I chose. I am no better qualified to evaluate the validity of the SAT today than I was in high school, but I know that the test is still a fact of life. I also learned that students who performed at a high level in all college-prep subjects usually scored high on the SATs. That is a very small segment of a high school graduating class; it is the people at the very top. Most of us had difficulty with a subject or two. Sciences were my weak point in high school and I avoided them in college. http://advice-and.info/Reference-and-Education/64610_Sat_Optional_Schools_Not_Always_Easy_Schools.html Sun, 21 Oct 2007 03:12:31 GMT There have been many instances over the past 20 years or so where people have been so unhappy about the schools that they have decided to step up and do something about it. In response to this discontent, charter schools have been formed. For many New York City Schools families, charters appear to be the way to go. Virtually anyone concerned with the state of New York City Schools can open a charter school. Parents, teachers, principals (whether they are from public New York City Schools or private ones), community leaders, philanthropists and nonprofit organizations are all examples of the types of folks who open charter schools in response to a perceived lack in quality public education. http://advice-and.info/Reference-and-Education/62587_New_York_City_Schools_Include_Charters.html Tue, 02 Oct 2007 05:22:03 GMT Students are Fleeing Minneapolis Schools Minneapolis schools are being faced with the prospect of empty school buildings as more and more students flee the system to charter schools in the district. Minneapolis schools enrollment figures have plummeted to just 36,000 this year - thats almost half its capacity of 50,000 students. Schools in the north side have felt the pinch the hardest with a 44 percent drop in enrollment over the past five years. All indications are that there is no stemming this tide and Minneapolis schools have already announced plans to close 5 schools leaving more than 2000 students in the lurch, desperately scrambling to find new schools. http://advice-and.info/Reference-and-Education/62581_Minneapolis_Public_Schools_Lose_Students_To_Charter_Schools.html Thu, 04 Oct 2007 20:08:42 GMT The Menace of Sexual Harassment in Memphis Schools Mention the words sexual harassment and images of leering executives making lewd comments to or in the presence of co-workers or employees comes to mind. We tend to associate sexual harassment as an adult phenomenon; the kind that gets men and in rare cases women in deep trouble, or at the very least leaves them with a lighter wallet. We dont associate it with young students in schools. http://advice-and.info/Reference-and-Education/62568_Tackling_Sexual_Harassment_In_Memphis_City_Schools.html Thu, 27 Sep 2007 06:47:07 GMT Many people understand the importance of exposure to the arts. We love art; it is a necessary part of our society. In fact, for every culture and every society, art in some form or another is critical to how we live. For many, many years, arts programs have been cut in Oklahoma City Schools in efforts to divert funds to more pressing subject areas like reading and mathematics. While these are indeed necessary subjects for Oklahoma City Schools students to master, including an arts education in a students learning experiences can do nothing but improve their time attending Oklahoma City Schools, as well as contribute to the amount of success they see as a whole. Most Oklahoma City Public Schools concentrate on teaching students in three ways; by showing them how to do things, by telling them the information they need, or by giving them opportunities to try things themselves (also known as visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles). http://advice-and.info/Reference-and-Education/62561_Arts_Integrated_And_Learning_Styles_Go_Hand-in-hand_In_Oklahoma_City_Schools.html Fri, 05 Oct 2007 22:12:49 GMT Parents in the Oklahoma City Schools face similar challenge to parents around the nation. Preparing children for high stakes testing, trying to balance home and work, and preparing students for independence in a global economy are not small tasks for parents or teachers. What the children of Oklahoma City Schools have in their favor is a local community that is unusually supportive of public education. In 2001 residents voted in an historic bond initiate that used future taxes to provide new and renovated school buildings for all Oklahoma City Schools. Such a wide margin of public support is sadly unusual. But give the community involvement the parents of Oklahoma City Public Schools really seem interested in what they can do to give their own children, and local schools, the best chance possible. As a former teacher and parent of school-age learners, heres my advice on the three critical steps parents can take for their childrens success. http://advice-and.info/Reference-and-Education/59670_Empowering_Parents_In_The_Oklahoma_City_Schools.html Sat, 01 Sep 2007 20:49:39 GMT In the olden days, boys and girls received very different educations. They were segregated from each other, and pursued learning that was predetermined as appropriate for their sex. While boys studied subjects like Latin and French, girls learned to dance and do embroidery. Equal education has been in place for a long time, now, and has most certainly been a good change for students everywhere both girls and boys. This is not a case of change for change sake, but a necessity of progressing with the times. However, there is something to be said for educating our children in same-sex groups. Ohio Schools are beginning to institute same-sex schools, and have found remarkable results. Middle school students attending Ohio Schools may choose to go to one of the districts Single-Gender Middle Schools. These Ohio Valley Schools are research-based and are modeled on other effectively utilized programs in various schools around the country. Some single-gender characteristics that have been identified are a year-round balanced calendar, Summer Academy, expanded school year, and mandatory uniforms. http://advice-and.info/Reference-and-Education/59668_Single-gender_Schools_Becoming_An_Option_In_Ohio_Schools.html Mon, 03 Sep 2007 16:21:34 GMT As the largest school district in the nation, with over a million students, the New York City Public Schools face a mammoth task. In some ways New York City Schools are at an advantage because New York State has required the stringent Regents exam as a requirement for graduation for years. That doesnt mean that everyone in the New York City Schools is fond of the mandatory tests, but it has put the city and state at an advantage as far as meeting some of the No Child Left Behind Acts Standards. At least teachers and administrators of the New York City Schools already had some tight standards in place. Teachers in New York City Schools need to have or obtain a Masters Degree to teach. While the New York City Schools are in need of teachers, just like the rest of the nation, the standards that they hold their teachers to and the pay are among the highest in the country. Thats not to say the New York City Schools dont have problems- they do. But the New York City Schools do have a sound foundation for hiring teachers. http://advice-and.info/Reference-and-Education/59623_Teachers_In_New_York_City_Schools.html Sat, 01 Sep 2007 18:25:30 GMT Every city in every state in this nation has a homeless population. These are people who are down on their luck. They may have suffered a series of financial disasters and have been driven from their homes because they simply couldnt pay the bills. They may suffer from a mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or clinical depression and are unable to care for themselves financially, as well as physically. It is beyond them to provide themselves with adequate food or shelter. Sadly, many families suffer the first fate mounting bills force them out of their homes. Many live in their cars, but still more have to depend on charitable organizations to help them meet the needs of their families. Sometimes, the judicial system gets involved, and families are split up; kids are placed in foster care in the hopes that they will get the care they need. http://advice-and.info/Reference-and-Education/58733_Kansas_City_Schools_Serve_Unique_Students.html Thu, 23 Aug 2007 01:33:36 GMT When I was in high school, I attended the only high school our town had. A one-high school town, our school was home to every 14-18 year old in residence. My senior year, there were about 250 of us graduating. I thought that was a lot; but I still at least knew everyones name, even if I wasnt friends with them all. Looking back, our school wasnt that big compared to some; the name of every person in my graduating class fit on the back of the Prom T-shirt! I never thought of my school as small; it seemed big to my small-town eyes. With approximately 1,000 students, our campus had 4 classroom wings (a 5th one was added in my junior year), a music building, a gym, library, office, cafeteria, weight room, tennis courts, football fields, and baseball diamonds. We even had a barn, for the FFA kids (Future Farmers of America) and their livestock. This was my world, and one which I quite honestly wanted to get out of as soon as possible. While the size of our school was really on the small side, it was big to us; but I guess its all relative to our own experiences. http://advice-and.info/Reference-and-Education/58621_Small_Schools_Offer_Alternatives_For_Indianapolis_Schools.html Wed, 29 Aug 2007 10:14:20 GMT Chicago public schools have been going through a transformation designed to take the districts mammoth high schools and turn them into more intimate, student-focused environments. Educators and administrators seem to love the concept. And deep-pocketed philanthropists think its a great idea too. Various groups like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation have invested 26 million to the small schools concept. For urban areas like the Chicago Schools, theres a lot of research to support the idea that teen learners do better in an environment where people know them and have regular contact with them. So over 20 of the Chicago Schools have been transformed to high schools that house 500 students or less. Elementary schools have a limit of 350 students. http://advice-and.info/Reference-and-Education/58319_Chicago_Schools_Debate_Merits_Of_Small_Schools.html Mon, 20 Aug 2007 16:54:19 GMT Since 1989 the Wake County District of Raleigh Schools in North Carolina have been experimenting with year round schools. In the Raleigh Schools, a year round school requires that children attend the same 180 school days, but on a non-traditional schedule. Rather than the conventional September to June calendar, with a long summer break, students and teachers in Raleigh Public Schools year round program attend on a continuous cycle of 45 days on with 3 week breaks between. While the concept of year round schools has been approved by educational experts for decades, resistance from many parents and teachers has the prevented the concept from becoming as wide spread as many would like. But Raleigh Schools gradual implementation of the concept is gathering many devotees. From 1992 to 2004 the district added 13 more year round schools. In the 2006-2007 school year, another 5 were added. And 2007-2008 will mark the fastest growth ever when the Raleigh Schools will add 26 more schools to its year round model. 4 of these will be brand new and 22 will be transitioned over. Parents and teachers are coming to accept and enjoy the flexibility of the year round model. And the benefits to the district are meaningful. http://advice-and.info/Reference-and-Education/56809_Raleigh_Schools_Continue_Transition_To_Year_Round_Schools.html Wed, 01 Aug 2007 01:41:38 GMT New York City Schools started converting many of its massive high schools into smaller, thematic schools in 2002. The 2006 graduates who were the first students in New York City Schools to have spent their entire four-year high school experience in the smaller venues had impressive results. And the 2007 results continue to look good. Graduation rates of the 47 small-sized New York City Schools are significantly higher that the citys overall rates. The small schools report a 73 graduation rate while the city reports a 60 rate. These numbers are important to several different groups within the New York City Schools. The small schools initiative is a major component of Mayor Michael Bloombergs attempt to improve the New York City Schools. The first installation of the smaller New York City Schools were funded with over 30 million from groups like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Carnegie Corporations and the Open Society Institute. http://advice-and.info/Reference-and-Education/55656_New_York_City_Schools_See_Large_Success_With_Small_Schools.html Tue, 31 Jul 2007 05:49:18 GMT Salt Lake City Schools recognized the academic success of both a federally funded program, and of its individual students in May. The first group of 150 Utah Scholars has graduated from the rigorous academic high school program. Utah Scholars is a federally funded program that was with the goal of encouraging academic rigor at the high school level. Several Salt Lake City Schools including the Granite, Jordan, Park City and Prove districts had participating students. Utah was one of 22 states to benefit with a grant of 300,000 to fund the program for two years. http://advice-and.info/Reference-and-Education/54697_Salt_Lake_City_Schools_See_First_Utah_Scholarship_Grads.html Sun, 08 Jul 2007 04:05:31 GMT Oklahoma City Schools have ridden a roller coaster of ups and downs for the past decade. The district was labeled as in need of improvement under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). That federal mandate led to major overhauls which included a district improvement plan, a comprehensive local education plan (CLEP) and numerous initiatives by then superintendent Bob Moore. The changes have seen marked improvements. Following Moores resignation, interim superintendent Linda S. Brown and the Oklahoma City Schools Board instituted four major tools to help meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as required by the NCLB act. These tools are: district restructuring, the Instructional Facilitator Program, the Organizational Health Inventory, and the High Performance Model. The major concern of Oklahoma City Schools during the previous academic year was finding someone capable of continuing the upward progress of these initiatives. http://advice-and.info/Reference-and-Education/53938_Oklahoma_City_Schools_Find_New_Leader.html Thu, 28 Jun 2007 04:43:13 GMT The state of Kansas Board of Education is expected to make a change to teacher licensure requirements that could help Kansas City Schools get the teachers it needs. According to Martha Gage, director of teacher education and licensure, the Professional Standards Board recommends the improvements. The changes will allow teachers in Kansas City Schools, and across the state, to add subjects to their portfolios with greater ease. Why is this important to Kansas City Schools? As a result of the state increase in science department credits required for graduation, the Kansas City Schools cannot fill its need for chemistry and physics teachers. This change would allow a biology teacher to take the competency test in a different science area, like chemistry, and be qualified to teach it. http://advice-and.info/Reference-and-Education/53549_Kansas_City_Schools_Change_Licensing_Requirements.html Sun, 24 Jun 2007 15:55:49 GMT Perhaps one of the most famous cities in the state of Texas, Dallas has many things to recommend it. From the beautiful downtown architecture to the Dallas Cowboys football team, it seems that everything Dallas is wonderful. This includes the Dallas Schools. Dallas Schools honored 13 schools as exemplary and 67 as recognized this past February, at an IBM Corporation-sponsored dinner. No other urban school district in Texas had a larger number of exemplary and recognized schools in 2006. In order to be rated exemplary, 90 of all students in Dallas Schools must pass all subject areas of the TAKS, officially known as the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test. To earn a recognized status, 70 of all students in Dallas Schools must pass all subject areas. The students, teachers, administrators, and parents who worked hard to achieve these high Texas Education Agency rankings deserve applause and congratulations, said Dallas Schools General Superintendent Michael Hinojosa. They are an inspiration to all of us. http://advice-and.info/Reference-and-Education/52855_Schools_And_Services_In_Dallas_Schools.html Sat, 16 Jun 2007 08:37:51 GMT If you want to stir up a frenzy of controversy, just ask families in Salt Lake City Schools what they think about educating the children of illegal immigrants. The answers will be diverse and impassioned. Based on numbers provided by the Utah Office of Education state schools, including Salt Lake City Schools, spend about 5,140 annually per pupil. A recent audit titled A Review of the Public Education Costs of Undocumented Children recently threw some fuel into the fire. The audit, performed by the Utah Office Legislative Auditor General, reports that the state spends over 63 million annually on undocumented students. Residents and state representatives of Salt Lake City Schools are engaged in a heated dialogue regarding the accuracy of that number. The study claims that educating a Salt Lake City Schools students who is undocumented costs 100-400 more annually due to the need for special language and low-income programs. This matter is of special interest to the Salt Lake City Schools because administrators have been trying to use available funds to meet rising standards in cost-efficient and effective ways. A look at the recent initiatives in Salt Lake City Schools reveals numerous efforts like vouchers, school choice and charter schools in the citys attempt to improve education. Many representatives of Salt Lake City Schools interpret the audit to show that educating undocumented students comes at the detriment of the rest of the population. http://advice-and.info/Reference-and-Education/52302_Salt_Lake_City_Schools_Look_At_Costs_Of_Undocumented_Students.html Sun, 10 Jun 2007 23:24:38 GMT In the 5 years since New York City Schools received funding from philanthropic giants like the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, the Carnegie Corporation, and the Open Society Institute New Yorkers have watched closely the development of New Century High Schools (NCHS). The 70 million investment funded an initiative to create smaller high school communities in this vast metropolis. The goal is to provide children in New York City Schools with more choices to drive them toward their goals of college, or practical employment. Currently, 83 New Century High Schools are educating over 13,000 high school students. These schools are markedly different than traditional New York City Schools. The first difference is in size. A NCHS is housed in a larger high school, but only educates about 400 students. http://advice-and.info/Reference-and-Education/51621_New_York_City_Schools_See_Success_In_New_Century_High_Schools.html Mon, 04 Jun 2007 18:25:21 GMT Kansas City Schools have undergone many changes in the past five years. The resignation of the superintendent for embezzlement of funds in 2002 highlighted the districts need for change. Since then, Kansas City Schools have experienced reforms and new initiatives that are credited with giving the district some of the lowest dropout rates in the country. Kansas City Schools are still struggling and in a bit of turmoil, but they are making good progress in their efforts to get back into the game. Kansas City Schools have composed their own list of reforms unique to the state of Missouri. One example is the Show-Me Standard, a group of goals designed to make students more independent thinkers and workers. Emphasis is put on the importance of community involvement and initiatives that promote a practical approach to life after high school. The Show-Me Standard pushes Kansas City Schools to produce evidence of achievement in the areas of concern. http://advice-and.info/Reference-and-Education/51145_Kansas_City_Schools.html Sat, 02 Jun 2007 11:39:59 GMT Office Max Donates Funds to Charlotte Schools One Charlotte Schools member started off the school year with a big boon. Nations Ford Elementary School has received a 5,000 donation from Office Max. This donation is linked to the opening of a brand new Office Max in Rivergate Town Center on Sept. 6. Charlotte Schools teachers from Nations Ford Elementary Schools were invited to the grand opening ceremony where they could purchase additional school supplies for their classrooms. This donation will help the teachers get much needed supplies for their students and classrooms. http://advice-and.info/Reference-and-Education/49357_Charlotte_Schools_Team_Up_With_Local_Businesses_To_Improve_Schools.html Sat, 12 May 2007 09:02:14 GMT Looking for a high school for your child that concentrates on preparing for higher academics? The New York City schools have five such high schools. If you have a child now in elementary or middle school, live or plan to live in New York City, and you would like to see your child excel in high school and college, begin planning now for his or her enrollment in one of five specialized New York City schools. http://advice-and.info/Reference-and-Education/48737_Lots_Of_High_School_Choices_In_The_New_York_City_Schools.html Sat, 05 May 2007 22:49:41 GMT Residents of the Dominican Republic, especially the impoverished ones, have long viewed the United States and especially New York City as a land of limitless wealth. All you have to do is live there for a few years, and you too will be wealthy. This erroneous vision was fostered in the 1980s with the crack epidemic centered in Washington Heights, an area located north of New York City and predominantly populated by Dominican immigrants. Thousands of dollars in cash were sent back to the families, who still lived in the Dominican Republic. http://advice-and.info/Reference-and-Education/48734_Dominican_Children_In_New_York_City_Schools_Face_Two-edged_Sword_Of_Difficulties.html Sat, 05 May 2007 22:49:45 GMT The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child put forth that one primary purpose of schools is to develop respect for human rights and the fundamental freedoms that all children should enjoy. They noted that to truly understand and promote human rights, one has to live them out in relation to others. The New York City schools has taken this directive seriously and to heart by creating its School for Human Rights, a combined middle and high school academy that is built around the concept of human rights. It is one of nearly 150 small public schools opened through special initiatives in the last three years by the New York City schools, having opened its doors in September 2004. During the New York City schools school year 2005-2006, the School of Human Rights had over 180 students. http://advice-and.info/Reference-and-Education/48729_Human_Rights_Take_Front_And_Center_For_The_New_York_City_Schools.html Sat, 05 May 2007 22:49:47 GMT