About Public Schools

When parents send their children to school, most worry about whether their children will like their teachers or succeed in their classes. Few are concerned about the potential of cancer-causing elements like PCBs lurking in or around their children's school grounds.

Alas, recent assessments of New York schools have raised some troubling findings that indeed have parents concerned about their children's exposure to these potentially harmful elements during school hours.

Study Uncovers Disturbing Findings

According to a report at the New York Times, a pilot study into the presence and potential risks of PCBs was conducted in New York City school buildings. In the first three schools examined, elevated levels of the compounds were discovered. Remediation work on the schools and surrounding areas has already begun, and the city's Department of Education has stated that all three schools are on schedule to open to students on September 8.

The Formation of the PCB Task Force

However, the assurance does little to calm the concerns of parents who send their children to schools in the city. One parent of a student at French Hill Elementary School in Yorktown Heights, Dr. Daniel Lefkowitz, discovered hazardous levels of PCBs around a window and in the soil around the school in 2004. His findings resulted in a major cleanup of French Hill Elementary that amounted to a total bill of more than $300,000.

The discovery also launched the beginnings of a PCB Task Force that calls

Summer may be coming to a close, but the school year is just starting to rev into gear. If you are concerned about how to transition your kids from the lazy, hazy days of summer to a more structured routine, you are not alone. Take advantage of these tips to help the entire family transition back to school more smoothly.

Good Nights = Better Days

Kids tend to adjust to the school routine much better if they move into it gradually. It is particularly important to get your children on a good bedtime schedule to ensure they begin their new school year fully rested.

Begin moving the bedtime clock up by 30 minutes or so a number of days before school begins. Establish a family dinner time and a relaxing evening routine that promotes restful slumber. CBS parenting expert Shannon Eis said in a recent CBS report that a well-rested child is one that can adapt to a new school year quickly and successfully.

Assess Physical Health

The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) recommends scheduling doctor and dentist appointments prior to the start of school to give your child a clean bill of health before the school year begins. If you have concerns about your child's physical, emotional or psychological development, discuss them with your pediatrician. Your doctor can let you know if your child's development is age-appropriate or an issue worth exploring.

Knowing potential problems ahead of time allows you and your

Homeless children face a myriad of issues, not the least of which is the ability to get a quality education. Unfortunately, the incidence of homeless families has been on the rise since the economic downturn began. Across the country, schools are working hard to ensure homeless students get a level playing field, with the hopes these children can get the education they need to move out of a life of poverty.

The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty states: "Homeless children and youth often have problems enrolling and participating in school. As a result, Congress passed the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act in 1987. This law gives homeless children and youth the right to:

• Remain in the same school even if they move;
• Enroll in a new school without typically required records such as proof of
• residency, immunizations, school records, or other papers;
• Get transportation to school;
• Get all the school services they need; and
• Challenge decisions made by schools and districts.

This video looks at the issue of homeless high school students.

Identifying Homeless Children

According to the National Association of School Psychologists, "homeless children include those who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence." This might include children who live in shared housing, motels, cars or shelters.

Sometimes homeless students are identified directly, making it easy for school staff to provide the necessary assistance. However,

PE class has always been a cornerstone of a public education. However, some states are taking health concerns a step further by monitoring children's body mass index and reporting findings back to parents for further action.

Is a school weigh-in taking physical fitness too far? There are experts on both sides of the issue generating a compelling debate over "fat grades" in schools today.

The Obesity Problem

Few experts would argue the fact that childhood obesity is a problem of epidemic proportions today. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of youth considered obese tripled between 1980 and 2004. Today, 19% of children between the ages of 6 and 11, as well as 17% of adolescents between the ages of 12 and 19, are classified as obese. That translates to about 25 million children in this country who are at greater risk of what was once considered adult health issues, such as high cholesterol, hypertension and lifestyle-related diabetes.

One way to determine whether an individual is obese is by calculating the body mass index, or BMI. The BMI is the ratio of a person's height to weight, squared, and it usually gives an accurate determination of an individual's body fat.

The CDC recommends that schools conduct BMI surveillance programs, similar to the ones some schools have adopted. However, in the CDC model, results are anonymous and used more to determine trends in specific population sects, rather than assessing an individual

While most parents are worried about what gets into kids' heads during a typical school day, some are also becoming increasingly concerned about what goes into their stomachs during lunch breaks as well.

Fortunately, national organizations like the School Nutrition Association are researching and providing information on school lunch programs across the country. Each year, the School Nutrition Association chooses one school district as the example for other school lunch programs, both in terms of nutrition and taste. This year, the honor goes to Fairfax County in Virginia, according to a recent report in the Washington Post.

What Does a Healthy School Lunch Look Like?

There are many factors that go into assessing what a healthy school lunch looks like, according to HealthSchoolLunches.org. This organization, founded by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, has issued a number of recommended changes that they would like to see in school lunch programs, including:

• Offer vegan or vegetarian dishes daily as an option to other school lunch fare.
• Meet the nutritional needs of all children, including those that are lactose-intolerant, by offering calcium-rich, nondairy beverages at all meals.
• Include a variety of vegetable dishes, as well as fresh and dried fruits.
• Provide programs to teach healthy eating principles to food service staff, parents and students.

In addition to these criteria, the School Nutrition Association also looks at the financial and program management of a school district when determining the award recipients for the year.

Fairfax