About Public Schools

Student snacking during the school day is about to become a whole lot healthier, thanks to new federal standards. New “Smart Snacks” standards will ensure access to foods high in sugar, sodium, and calories will be limited during the school day, whether students are getting the snacks from vending machines in the school hallways or the cafeteria line. The new standards are not scheduled to go into effect until 2014, but already schools are getting ready for what the Smart Snacks standards will mean for their students – and possibly, their bottom line.

This video illustrates some of the possibilities for smart snacks.

Smarter Snacking from the USDA

According to a report at Living Green Magazine, the new standards are coming directly from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsak stated at the Living Green website, “Nothing is more important than the health and well-being of our children. Parents and schools work hard to give our youngsters the opportunity to grow up healthy and strong, and providing healthy options throughout school cafeterias, vending machines and snack bars will support their great efforts.”

The new Smart Snacks standards will require schools to remove foods like high-calorie soft drinks and sports beverages, candy bars, and cookies from cafeterias, snack bars, and school vending machines. Those selections will be replaced with flavored water, granola bars, and fruit cups. According to the Christian

Studying language abroad is one of the best educational experiences you can have. There is no better way of learning a language than living in the country, being surrounded by native people daily, and using it daily. It works greatly towards achieving your language skills. You can meet new people and fellow international students, therefore, enhancing your experience as well as your professional network. If you are a foreign language major or want to make a career out of it, studying abroad is the best step you can take toward achieving it. It gives your resume the right amount of boost.

There are hundreds of destinations around the world that offer language study programs choosing from which can be an overwhelming task. So, we have listed some useful resources to help you find information related to language study abroad. We have divided the resources into three groups to help you find exactly what you are searching for.

General – Spanish Language Program – Italian Language Program

General

CIEE study abroad - This is a very useful website that offers great options for people who are interested in studying language abroad. This site provides a list of programs offered in several countries. It also offers a comprehensive idea about the local cultures and languages of several countries like Russia, Italy, Germany, China, and Spain.
SIT Study Abroad - This website offers summer and academic year language study programs in nearly 40 countries in Asia and the Pacific,

College is the future dream for many high school students, but that dream is more likely to become a reality for some students than others. Now, high school students in Newark have an option that can help them beat the odds and make that college dream a reality. Bard College has brought its proven track record of success to a Newark high school, offering students the chance to experience the rigors of college academics firsthand within the secure confines of a high school environment.

Bard High School Early College Newark

Bard High School Early College Newark (BHSEC Newark) is the latest in a series of college-based high schools created through Bard College. According to the BHSEC website, this school first opened in 2011 as a partnership between the college and Newark Public Schools. BHSEC Newark offers a rigorous, college-level curriculum combined with traditional high school academics that prepare students for life after high school.

What makes the Newark school unique is its commitment to enrolling students from a diverse range of backgrounds, giving students the chance to excel academically that might not have the chance otherwise. Students come from all Newark neighborhoods, including disadvantaged areas like Newark’s West Ward, where drugs and shootings are almost a way of life for the youth residents of the community. The New York Times reports that BHSEC Newark is positioned across the street from a tire shop and bail bond business, seemingly to breathe fresh

Once children have graduated from diapers and baby food, the next big decision for parents becomes where to send their precious tots to school. There are many choices available to parents today, from the neighborhood school down the street to charter and private schools in the area. How does a parent know which school will be the best fit for his child? The choice is never easy, but it helps to weigh the pros and cons of each of these types of schools to see which might present the greatest benefit.

Cost

One of the first variables parents must weigh when comparing the various types of schools is cost. Public schools are “free” institutions by law, although they may charge fees and students may be required to provide their own supplies. Charter schools are also considered public schools, so there is no tuition cost assessed. However, private schools can – and do – charge tuition to students and their parents, and in some cases, those costs can be rather high.

According to a report at Fox News, the average tuition cost for private secondary schools during the 2007-2008 school year was around $10,500. Great Schools also cites statistics from the National Catholic Education Association that show while private parochial schools tend to charge lower tuition rates, the average tuition for these schools is still around $2,600 for elementary schools and nearly $7,000 for secondary schools.

Enrollment

Public schools are required to accept

The governance of public schools is a rather complex issue that incorporates various government entities at the federal, state, and local levels. In theory, these multiple levels should create a tapestry that addresses the needs of students at the most local level without sacrificing education quality across the country. While the model doesn’t always work as planned, the checks and balances system provides a mostly workable national education system that crosses state and district lines. Learn more about the basics of public school governance in the United States today.

Federal Oversight

The federal government is responsible for four essential functions in public education today, according to the U.S. Department of Education website. Those four functions include:

• Policies related to Education Funding – These policies can promote specific education reform by offering additional funding to states and districts that choose to abide by federal standards. EdSource explains that the current administration is attempting to do just that, by providing competitive grants through the Race to the Top program. States that align with Race to the Top standards and recommendations stand to receive additional funding from Uncle Sam.

• Collection of Data and Research – This information is used to identify the strengths and weaknesses in the current state of public education. By identifying weaknesses in public education, states can draft new policies to close the gaps and improve education quality overall.
• Identification of Problems in Education at the National Level – By focusing on learning