Local School Topics

Chicago Public Schools appears to spend plenty of time in the headlines, and much of the news that comes out of the windy city is less than stellar for the school system. However, in the midst of school closings, poor test scores, and teachers’ strikes, a large school district with a long and illustrious history is found. The third-largest school district in the country also boasts one of the most colorful histories, dating all the way back to the middle of the 19th century. Today, the school system is a robust one, offering a wealth of services and opportunities for students, parents, and community members alike.

Early Years of CPS

According to the Encyclopedia of Chicago, the first public schools in the Chicago area were established in the 1830s, when the city was still a small settlement in the new state of Illinois. Private schools had existed prior to this time, but the creation of regional schools allowed students from all backgrounds to get an education at last. The earliest schools were profoundly primitive, and although funding from the state was earmarked for education, it did not always get to the student populations it was designed to serve. Most of the “schools” of that era met in buildings allotted for other purposes, such as stores and homes.

19^th Century CPS

Throughout the 19^th century, Chicago’s public school system grew and evolved, with around 250,000 students in city schools by the end

Michigan has developed a new plan for revamping failing schools by introducing the Education Achievement Authority, a special district slotted specifically for the lowest performing schools in the state. Most educators agree that the new system is effective and necessary for bringing the state’s public school system up to par. However, some are concerned the organization may be overstepping its bounds as it begins to expand the number of schools it serves.

What is the Education Achievement Authority?

According to the Detroit Public Schools website, the Education Achievement Authority (also referred to as the EAA) is a statewide school district for the lowest performing schools in Michigan. The new district takes the schools in the bottom five percent statewide and works to transform them into viable, financially-responsible schools. Once they have achieved this status, the schools can then decide if they want to return to their original school district or remain in the EAA.

The new district functions very differently from the other school districts in Michigan. The administration and staff at each individual school are responsible for hiring teachers, placing them in the best positions, and allocating resources to enhance the learning environment. The district also takes steps to ensure that a larger percentage of taxpayer funding goes directly to the classroom. The system also places greater emphasis on parental support and community involvement to ensure the best possible outcomes for its students.

Students in EAA schools are grouped by skill level, rather than

Parents are an integral part of their children’s education, but many parents aren’t sure how to go about helping their kids become successful in school. Miami-Dade Public Schools are committed to equipping parents to help their children become successful, productive students. The Parent Academy features a wealth of learning and resources designed just for parents of school-aged children.

What is the Parent Academy?

The Parent Academy is a unique service offered by Miami-Dade Public Schools, although similar types of services are offered at other large school districts around the country. The “academy” actually consists of a network of courses for adults on child development and education, discipline and even nutrition. There are also numerous resources available through the Parent Academy website, including services for low income families and additional educational opportunities for parents.

According to Neighbors 4 Neighbors, the Parent Academy has a number of goals for bringing parents into the education equation, including:

• Strengthening families through ongoing, relevant education
• Helping parents to become more active in their children’s education
• Support both education and the community at large
• Promote advocacy for stronger public education

To meet those goals, the academy strives to provide a wide range of offerings for parents, most of which are free of charge. The organization is currently supported by a long list of corporate sponsors and depends on additional donations from the community to continue its work.

The Parent Academy in Miami-Dade is particularly relevant because of the demographics of the population in

The Clark County School District, which encompasses all of Clark County in Nevada, is one of the largest school districts in the United States today. The district includes the city of Las Vegas, as well as North Las Vegas, Mesquite, and Henderson. The district is made up of seven different regions, which includes all of the public schools in the county, as well as a number of alternative schools and a handful of charters.

The History of Clark County School District

Clark County School District was first established in 1956, according to Wikipedia. At that time, the Nevada legislature consolidated state districts into the county district, giving Clark County a single school district rather than the 14 divisions of districts it had held prior to that decision. At the time Clark County School District was established, it boasted an enrollment of right around 20,000 students. Today, the district is home to more than 300,000 and 15,000 teachers.

Much of the growth in Clark County occurred between the last decade of the 20^th century and the first few years of the current century. Growth can be attributed to the rapid development in Las Vegas, which brought many more families into the area. Voters in Nevada had to approve a number of bond issues during this time to accommodate the rapid growth and ensure the school system was able to keep up with the enrollment increases. There was also a high demand for teachers during this time. The

The Los Angeles Unified School District is the largest school system in California and the second largest in the country. With nearly 700,000 students to serve, it should not be a surprise that this school district faces many challenges on a daily basis. Check out these 10 issues the Los Angeles Unified School District must cope with in order to bring the highest possible quality of education to its thousands of students every day.

Diversity

According to Wikipedia, the student population in the Los Angeles Unified School District is a highly diverse one. The enrollment breakdown consists of 73 percent Hispanic students, 11 percent African-American students, nine percent white students and four percent Asian American students. The diversity of the population presents unique challenges for the district, as it strives to provide the same standards of education to students with broad backgrounds.

Overcrowding

Schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District have been traditionally overcrowded, with concerns about the situation dating back decades. In an effort to relieve some of the crowding issues, Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE) reports that the district has built 130 new school buildings over the past decade for a cost of more than $19 billion. Most notable is the Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools, which is the most expensive public school built in America. The money invested appears to be paying off, as test scores for students in the less crowded facilities appear to be