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:

Editorial: Common Core Standards a Good Place to Start, but More Work is Needed

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Editorial: Common Core Standards a Good Place to Start, but More Work is Needed
The Common Core Standards were created in order to facilitate greater academic progress among K-12 students, and seek to provide consistent academic benchmarks that students must meet. While Common Core is a step in the right direction, there are some concerns that need to be addressed before they reach their optimal effectiveness.

The Common Core State Standards began, in part, as the brainchild of Janet Napolitano, former governor of Arizona. As the chairperson of the National Governors Association in 2006-2007, Napolitano created a task force on education that released a report calling for standardized benchmarks in education. That report eventually formed the basis of the Common Core State Standards, which thus far have been adopted by 45 states, Washington, D.C., four U.S. territories and the edu8cational branch of the Department of Defense.

This video offers a guide to the Common Core State Standards.

Today, the Common Core is a set of high-quality, rigorous standards that outline what children should learn, know and be able to do at each grade level in the areas of math and language arts. The standards seek to address the variability between state-level educational standards that have for years produced high school graduates with widely ranging academic abilities.

Benefits of Common Core

The Common Core Standards are both relevant and rigorous. Students are engaged in activities that build higher-ordered analytical skills, critical thinking skills, and problem-solving skills that are necessary for success in today’s world. In that regard, the standards are not focused solely on the acquisition of knowledge, but the application of that knowledge as well. Additionally, in states where the standards have been adopted, students receive comparable instruction no matter who their teacher is or what school

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Vouchers for Special Education: Are They a Good Idea?

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Vouchers for Special Education: Are They a Good Idea?
Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of public school vouchers as they pertain to the education of students with disabilities.

In an effort to provide families with a disabled child more choices with regard to their child’s education, some cities and states have implemented school voucher programs that provide taxpayer assistance to pay for a child’s private school education. Doing so, supporters say, gives special needs children an opportunity to get a high-quality education at a school their families may not otherwise be able to afford. Yet, detractors of such programs maintain that private schools are not held to the same standard as public schools when it comes to providing special education services. Specifically, some parents worry about the implementation – or lack thereof – of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in private school settings.

What is IDEA?

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is a federal law that governs what public schools must do to meet the needs of children with disabilities. As mandated by IDEA, students with disabilities are guaranteed a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). Essentially, this means that public schools must make necessary accommodations such that students with physical, mental, developmental or emotional disabilities can learn with the same degree of ease as regular education students. These accommodations can vary widely, from more time to take a test to have specialized technologies or classrooms made available for students with disabilities.

This video offers an explanation of IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ).

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Students of Color Disproportionately Disciplined in Schools

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Students of Color Disproportionately Disciplined in Schools
Research shows that students of color face a disproportionate number of disciplinary actions in U.S. public schools. Learn about these disparities, as well as the policies that fuel them. Also learn about suggested measures to address this problem.

According to a 2014 report by the U.S. Department of Education’s Civil Rights Office, widespread racial disparities exist in how schoolchildren are punished. The longitudinal study looked at data from the past 15 years and found that minority students face a disproportional number of disciplinary actions in schools across the country, from those in affluent suburban neighborhoods to those in the poorest urban areas.

Graph from HechingerEd

These disparities have been known for some time in middle and high schools. However, this report reveals that unfair discipline procedures begin as early as preschool. The data, which was collected from 97,000 public schools across the country, paints a troubling picture:

  • Black and Latino students are consistently punished more severely than white students for the same infractions.
  • Nearly 50 percent of preschool children suspended multiple times are black, yet black children represent less than one-fifth of the preschool population.
  • Black students are far more likely to be referred to law enforcement or arrested for a school-based offense than white students or other students of color.
  • Black girls are suspended much more than girls of any other race.
  • Students with disabilities, who represent only 12 percent of the public school population, account for almost 60 percent of students placed in seclusion.

Zero-Tolerance Policies

Many students suspended or placed in involuntary seclusion are put there because of the zero-tolerance policies that schools have put in place over the last two decades. Zero-tolerance

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Are Cell Phones and Public Schools Becoming a More Amicable Union?

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Are Cell Phones and Public Schools Becoming a More Amicable Union?
Cell phone policies are changing at schools across the country, and some are even embracing the technology to enhance the learning experience or improve student safety.

Cell phones have traditionally been seen by school districts as distractions that interfere with the learning process. Most instituted bans against the use of cell phones during the school day. However, the advent of smart phones has led some districts to re-explore that decision, and some are now backing away from their bans. Are cell phones and public schools becoming a more amicable union, or are districts merely bowing to student pressure?

History of Cell Phone Bans in Schools

For more than a decade, cell phones and other technology devices have been banned in most public schools across the country. The bans were originally instituted to prevent classroom disruptions and distractions, according to the website for the School Safety and Security Services. As the technology has evolved, concerns have been raised over using the devices to cheat on exams. They have also been seen as a security concern, since phones can now discreetly take photographs of tests or students changing in the school locker room.

Over the years, the use of cell phones in schools has become a matter of debate for students, parents and teachers. Advanced technology has now made phones legitimate instructional tools, as students can now use their phones to access an unlimited amount of information from the Internet. Some have also argued that as cell phones become a more prevalent part of today’s culture, keeping phones out of the classroom prevents schools from moving with the times.

Arguments

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The Look of Public Schools Post-Newtown: More Armed Guards Greet Students

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The Look of Public Schools Post-Newtown: More Armed Guards Greet Students
Students have headed back to school across the country, but are greeted by new security technology and armed security guards. We take a look at Post-Newtown public education.

As students head back to school this fall, things may look a little different in some locations. In the aftermath of the Newtown Elementary tragedy, many districts across the country are looking for ways to beef up security procedures to keep students and staff a little safer. In light of those efforts, students may be greeted by new security devices, safety measures, and even armed guards at some schools.

Debates Over Best Security Options

The Courant reports that as schools weighed their options in new security procedures, debate over the best way to protect students and faculty ensued. Armed police guards are often the center of that debate, with some school officials in favor of the action and others opposed. Other issues that have been argued in recent months include arming school administrators and security personnel and allowing teachers to bring guns to school.

This video from ABC News reports on the mounting cries nationwide for better security in our schools.

Carl Sferrazza, police chief for Enfield, Connecticut, is one who agrees armed guards are the best way to keep students safe. Sferrazza told the Courant, “These people are homicidal and suicidal individuals. Their intent and their planning are all geared toward killing as many people as they possibly can.”

However, others liken placing armed guards at the entrances of schools to creating a prison-like atmosphere for students. Nate Quesnel,

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Recent Articles

Pros and Cons of Public School Exit Exams
Pros and Cons of Public School Exit Exams
From ensuring academic standards to assessing student readiness for college and career, readers will gain insights into the potential benefits of these exams. However, the article also delves into concerns such as increased stress on students, potential biases in testing, and the limitations of standardized assessments in capturing the full spectrum of student abilities. With a balanced perspective and expert analysis, this resource offers readers a comprehensive understanding of the complexities surrounding public school exit exams, empowering them to engage in informed discussions and decision-making regarding education policy and practice.
All-Girl Public High Schools: Improving Confidence and College Success
All-Girl Public High Schools: Improving Confidence and College Success
Discover how all-girl public high schools are making waves in education, fostering confidence and enhancing college success among young women. This article explores the unique benefits of single-gender education, from creating a supportive environment free from gender stereotypes to offering tailored academic programs that empower girls to excel. Learn how these schools cultivate leadership skills, academic achievement, and a strong sense of community, setting students on a path to thrive in college and beyond. With insights from educators and success stories from graduates, uncover the transformative impact of all-girl public high schools on female empowerment and educational attainment.
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 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