About Public Schools

Here we cover the history of public schools, explain the various types and discuss their pros/cons. Learn more about technology on campus, health and nutrition issues, and the latest information related to a variety of student populations.

View the most popular articles in About Public Schools:

The Surprising Way Schools are Saving Money on Ed Tech

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The Surprising Way Schools are Saving Money on Ed Tech
With technology advancing and changing faster than ever, how can educators and schools keep up? The answer: refurbished ed tech.

How can educators and schools keep up with technology advancing and changing faster than ever? The answer: refurbished ed tech. The use of refurbished computers in public schools can vary widely depending on the specific school district, budget constraints, and local policies.

Refurbished computers are often considered a cost-effective way for schools to provide technology to students. They can be more affordable than purchasing brand-new computers, especially for cash-strapped school districts. Many schools and educational organizations may choose to refurbish older computers to extend their lifespan and make them available to students.

The prevalence of refurbished computers in public schools may also depend on the region and the level of funding available for technology initiatives. Schools may have extensive programs to refurbish and distribute computers to students in some areas. In contrast, in others, the use of refurbished computers may be less common due to budget limitations.

To get more specific information about the use of refurbished computers in public schools in your area, I recommend contacting your local school district or educational authorities. They can provide you with up-to-date information on their technology initiatives and how refurbished computers are utilized.

The Emergence of Refurbished Ed Tech

Teachers and administrators are turning to refurbished educational technology for better learning experiences on a reduced budget. Refurbished machines save time and money and give instructors a wider range of teaching options for students. We paneled some of the top minds in education to learn about the impact refurbished tech is

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The Benefit of Foreign Language Programs

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The Benefit of Foreign Language Programs
Discover why foreign language programs remain essential in 2026. Learn how bilingual education strengthens cognitive development, academic achievement, cultural awareness, and college and career readiness, while helping parents evaluate the quality of world language instruction in public schools.

Ask education experts, employers, and university leaders about the value of learning a second language, and the consensus is remarkably consistent: schools with strong foreign language programs provide students with academic, cognitive, and career advantages that extend far beyond the classroom.

Public schools that invest in world language education, whether through dual-language immersion programs, elementary language instruction, or comprehensive middle and high school offerings, often see benefits reflected in student achievement, cultural awareness, and college readiness. The strongest programs begin introducing languages during the elementary years and continue through high school, giving students sustained opportunities to develop proficiency while exploring the cultures associated with the languages they study.

While access to foreign language education has improved in some districts, availability remains uneven across the United States. Many schools continue to face teacher shortages, scheduling limitations, and budget constraints that make it difficult to offer comprehensive language programs. At the same time, interest in dual-language immersion programs and multilingual education continues to grow as families recognize the long-term academic and professional value of bilingualism.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), schools continue expanding opportunities that prepare students for an increasingly interconnected world, although access to advanced academic programs, including world languages, still varies considerably by district and state.

This video outlines the benefits of learning a foreign language.

There are many reasons why schools, even at the elementary level, should incorporate foreign

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White Students are Now the Minority in U.S. Public Schools

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White Students are Now the Minority in U.S. Public Schools
Increasing birth rates among immigrant families from Asia and Central and South America, combined with lower birth rates among white families, means that for the first time in history, public school students in the United States are majority-minority. This shift in demographics poses difficulties for schools as they work to accommodate children of varying language abilities and socio-economic backgrounds.

It has been an ongoing trend for nearly two decades – while the total number of students in American public schools has risen, the percentage of those students who are white has steadily fallen. According to the Pew Research Center, in 1997, over 63 percent of the 46.1 million U.S. public school students were white. Today, white students comprise just 49.7 percent of the 50 million students enrolled.

These changes in the racial makeup of the nation’s public schools reflect where the overall population is headed. According to recent estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2060, the white population in this country is projected to fall by more than 20 million people, while the Hispanic population is set to double. Black and Asian populations are expected to increase as well, although at rates far slower than Hispanics. By 2043, the nation as a whole is projected to become majority-minority.

Public School Diversity

While the white student population has declined by 15 percent since 1997, according to Pew, both Hispanic and Asian populations have rapidly increased. In that same time frame, Hispanic students have grown by 50 percent to 12.9 million. The number of Asian students has also seen significant growth, jumping 46 percent to 2.9 million students. The African-American student population, which will number 7.7 million this fall, has remained relatively steady over the last twenty years.

Much has been made recently of the number

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The Right Kind of Universal Pre-K

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The Right Kind of Universal Pre-K
For years there has been a push to universalize preschool in this country in order to provide all children with the leg up they will need in order to compete in a globalized economy. While approximately three-fourths of four year olds in America are involved in some kind of educational program, the United States still ranks only 25th out of the 34 most wealthy and upcoming nations in the world in terms of early childhood education, lagging behind the likes of Portugal and Mexico.

Despite the nation’s dismal ranking for early childhood education, there are signs that it is increasing in importance for American families. Just a decade ago, only 65 percent of four-year-olds were enrolled in preschool; today, that number is 78 percent. It is a subject that has also become politicized, with President Obama championing the cause several times during his presidency, most notably in his 2013 State of the Union Address. After that speech, the White House offered details of the president’s plan to greatly expand the availability and quality of pre-k programs, which include :

  • Expanding Early Head Start, which provides educational and health services to low-income and vulnerable children birth to three years of age;
  • Developing a cooperative effort between state and federal agencies to guarantee pre-k enrollment for children at or below 200 percent of the poverty line;
  • Build a corps of pre-k teachers that have the same level of credentials as those that teach K-12 students;
  • Extending the Nurse-Family Partnership Program provides home visits from nurses to low-income families. Nurses help promote health and positive parenting strategies from the child’s birth through their second birthday.

Many state legislatures have successfully enacted sweeping pre-k programs – Georgia and Oklahoma among them. However, the oddity of many state-based pre-K programs is that their success is far higher in states with poorer-performing public schools. Additionally, support for pre-k education seems much more robust in Republican-leaning states, especially those in the Deep South, like

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‘My Brother’s Keeper’ Seeks to Give African-American Boys a Boost

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‘My Brother’s Keeper’ Seeks to Give African-American Boys a Boost
President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative aims to improve academic opportunities for students of color, especially African-American boys.

It is no secret that youth of color, particularly black boys, face a mountain of obstacles to success. Black boys are more likely than their white peers to be suspended or expelled from school, more likely to drop out, less likely to graduate from high school, more likely to be unemployed, in prison, and die at an early age. These are problems that school districts, cities, and states have sought to fix for years and years, but with only pockets of success. It is a bleak outlook, but one that the Obama administration seeks to change with the most comprehensive reform and aid effort yet.

About the Initiative

The overarching purpose of My Brother’s Keeper is to address gaps in educational and related services that persist for young men of color. The initiative is a cooperation between local, state, and federal agencies, private business, and non-profits to bring essential services to the nation’s neediest youth. In total, the initiative includes five primary goals:

  • Prepare Children to Learn – Provide support programs that foster intellectual, physical, social, and emotional growth so children are prepared to begin school.
  • Boost Literacy – Support early learning initiatives that get children reading at grade level by age 8.
  • Help Kids Graduate from High School Prepared for College – Promote educational programs that prepare students for success in postsecondary environments and facilitate training for in-demand jobs.
  • Facilitate Workforce Readiness – Assist youth
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About Public Schools

OVERVIEW OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
A comprehensive look at the U.S. public school system, including history, governing bodies, funding, and services. Compare private, public and charter schools. Learn more about Magnet school programs and get tips on choosing the right school for your child.
TYPES OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Explore the different types of public schools, from charter to language immersion, and learn about the unique pros and cons of each type. Is a co-ed or single sex classroom best for your child? Charter school or magnet? Read expert advice and get valuable tips on the various public education programs available and how to choose what works best for your family.
TECHNOLOGY ON CAMPUS
From eBooks to web cams, technology on campus continues to grow. Learn how the latest technology impacts your child’s education. Get tips on the best ways to integrate technology into education and stay abreast of the latest developments and challenges facing schools.
HEALTH AND NUTRITION AT SCHOOL
From vending machines to Jamie Oliver, bed bugs to tuberculosis, we provide an in-depth look at health and wellness in public schools. Help your kids stay healthy on campus and learn about current health epidemics, vaccination requirements, physical fitness programs and the latest food initiatives.
BACK TO SCHOOL
Learn more about preparing your child and wallet for a new school year. Inside you’ll find valuable advice to help your family prepare for the transition from swimsuits to school. While there is no tuition, public school education does not come without costs. Learn more about budgeting for a new school year and get great money saving tips.
STUDENT POPULATIONS
The latest trends, laws and resources for a variety of student populations. Every child has different needs, and this section offers helpful information for LGBT, special education, gifted, low-income, and minority students.