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:

NAACP Pushing for Broad Reform in Public Education to Promote Quality, Equality

Updated
|
NAACP Pushing for Broad Reform in Public Education to Promote Quality, Equality
We’ll report on a new report published by the NAACP that focuses on four areas of education that must be reformed if the U.S. is to maintain their high level of education nationwide.

As more interested parties weigh in on ways to raise the bar on the standard of public education in the United States, a notable equal-rights organization has now found its voice. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has recently issued a report that focuses on four primary areas of improvement that should be addressed by the public education system today. The recommendations focus primarily on what it will take for the students of today to succeed in the global marketplace of the 21st century.

This video reports on one of the NAACP's initiatives to reform public education.

About “Finding Our Way Back to First”

The NAACP report, titled, “Finding Our Way Back to First: Reclaiming World Leadership by Educating All America’s Children,” identifies some of the solutions necessary for providing high-quality education to all children in the United States. The report was drafted in response to concerns that the U.S. is losing its competitive edge in the education spectrum on a global scale.

“If America is going to lead the world in this century the way we did the last, we must lead the world again in education,” the website for the NAACP states.

The Miami Herald lists four basic areas of focus outlined in the NAACP report, including:

. . .read more

Do Expulsion and Suspension Work in Public Schools?

Updated
|
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 Statesman, 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

. . .read more

Yoga in Schools: Good Fitness or Religious Indoctrination?

Updated
|
Yoga in Schools: Good Fitness or Religious Indoctrination?
We delve into the recent controversy over teaching of Yoga in public schools. While some see it as a healthy way for children to gain strength and flexibility, some parents are viewing it a religious indoctrination.

A new trend appears to be sweeping some public school districts, despite the alarm by a handful of parents. Yoga has recently been introduced into a number of school systems across the country, allowing students the opportunity to stretch, breathe and focus their bodies and minds during a busy school day. While many tout the new program as a healthy way for students of all ages to gain additional fitness benefits, some are concerned that the religion attached to the movements violates the separation of church and state in public schools.

Introducing Yoga to California Students

One school district that has fully embraced the health benefits of yoga in public schools is Encinitas Union School District in North San Diego County, California. The North County Times reports that the yoga program has been going strong in some district schools over the past three years. This year, thanks to a $533,000 grant from the K.P. Jois USA Foundation, the program has now been expanded throughout the district.

Approximately half the schools in Encinitas now provide yoga instruction for 30 to 40 minutes at a time, twice a week, the publication reports. Yoga joins other enrichment programs offered in the district, including music, reading and gardening. The additional classes serve a dual purpose by providing students with instruction in new subjects while freeing up teacher time for planning and other duties.

The schools, which claim to have removed all religious references from their

. . .read more

What are Common Core Standards and Why Do We Need Them?

Updated
|
What are Common Core Standards and Why Do We Need Them?
With schools nationwide adopting common core standards, we’ll 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 National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers. 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

U.S. News and World Report states that these common

. . .read more

The Ongoing Debate Over School Vouchers

Updated
|
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 the state of 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 really improve the quality of education for all students? With inconclusive test results, the jury appears to still be out. However, that doesn’t change the intensity with which both sides are fighting 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 across the state are feeling the heat. Fox News reports that the new voucher system first passed the Indiana legislature in 2011, and the hundreds of students that left public schools for private pastures last year could turn into thousands of students this year. Public schools are turning to advertising, as well as 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

. . .read more

Recent Articles

Back to School: Getting Up to Date with Required Vaccinations
Back to School: Getting Up to Date with Required Vaccinations
Stay up to date on the current requirements for vaccinations for school-age children today, as well as some of the problems schools face when parents do not properly immunize their kids.
Teaching in Contemporary Times
Teaching in Contemporary Times
We explore why individuals choose teaching, illuminating intrinsic motivations, the influence of role models, the pursuit of lifelong learning, and the aspiration to impact society.
Public Schools in a Minute
January 27, 2024
Public Schools in a Minute
Explore the diverse world of public schools in a minute! Our brief overview provides a snapshot of the educational landscape, school districts, curriculum, and more. Get a quick glance at the big picture of K-12 education.

Public School Policies

A Relevant History of Public Education in the United States
A Relevant History of Public Education in the United States
Why Public Schools Across the Country are Closing Their Campuses
Why Public Schools Across the Country are Closing Their Campuses
Do Lotteries Really Benefit Public Schools?  The Answer is Hazy
Do Lotteries Really Benefit Public Schools? The Answer is Hazy
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.
Private School Vouchers: The Controversy
Private School Vouchers: The Controversy
Are Vouchers Destroying Public Schools?
Are Vouchers Destroying Public Schools?
Indiana School Voucher Program Changes the Scope of Public/Private School in the State
Indiana School Voucher Program Changes the Scope of Public/Private School in the State
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.
10 Major Challenges Facing Public Schools
10 Major Challenges Facing Public Schools
Smaller Class Sizes: Pros and Cons
Smaller Class Sizes: Pros and Cons
The Pros and Cons of Tracking in Schools
The Pros and Cons of Tracking in Schools