Parenting and Learning Issues

Tragic bullying cases like Phoebe Prince’s story have prompted public schools to review their responsibility in preventing bullying, both on and off-campus. With the rise of social networking, cyberbullying has become a real threat, and schools are scrambling to manage the ramifications of 2.0 bullying.

According to the Cyberbullying Research Center, cyberbullying can be defined as, "willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices." The First Amendment Center cites statistics that show one-third of teens on the Internet have experienced harassment online. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dub electronic aggression as an "emerging adolescent health issue."

This video from the PACER Center offers resources for students and teachers.

Clearly, there is no doubt that cyberbullying has become a major problem in recent years, but the question then becomes: what should public schools do about it? It does not appear to be a question with an easy answer if one considers the differing responses to the problem by public schools and the government.

On one hand, when cyberbullying affects a child's educational experience, the schools have a responsibility to put a stop to the behavior. On the other hand, much of the cyberbullying that occurs takes place outside of school, leaving schools helpless in monitoring such activity. Then, there is the first amendment guarantee of free speech. Where

We worry that our children cannot keep up globally in important subjects like math and science, but what about money management? While financial training has not traditionally been a part of the "3 R's" of education, in a world of tough economic times, it has become an essential component of a sound education.

Subsequently, some public schools are implementing financial subjects as a part of their core curriculum, while non-profit organizations are working hard to provide resources to schools to help them in their efforts. Financial literacy is slowly but surely becoming an academic catchphrase for the 21^st century.

Why is financial literacy important?

Opp Loans answers that question as follows: "Financial literacy is important because it equips us with the knowledge and skills we need to manage money effectively. Without it, our financial decisions and the actions we take—or don’t take—lack a solid foundation for success. And this can have dire consequences:

• Nearly half of Americans don’t expect to have enough money to retire comfortably.
• Credit card debt has reached its highest point ever.
• Forty percent of Americans can’t afford a $400 emergency expense.
• Given the above statistics, it might not be surprising that nearly two-thirds of Americans can’t pass a basic test of financial literacy.

To explore the importance of financial literacy, we turned to personal finance experts working in colleges, high schools, and credit unions. Together, the populations they serve span a broad range of ages, incomes, and backgrounds. These educators witness first-hand the impact that

Parents want to ensure their children obtain the best education possible, but few know how significantly their input can turn a campus into a top public school. There are numerous ways parents can get involved to raise the bar for the neighborhood school system. Consider these four ideas to help your schools achieve the quality you want for your children.

Parental Involvement in the Classroom

When parents enter the classroom, they obtain a better perspective of the teacher and students' challenges. Parental involvement encourages better communication between the teacher and parent and between the parent and child. According to a study by Henderson and Berla, the benefits of parental involvement to students include:

• Higher grades and test scores
• Better attendance
• More homework completed
• Improved attitudes
• Higher graduation rates

Benefits are not restricted to students, however. The school also benefits from parental involvement in the following ways:

• More support for teachers from families
• Improved teacher morale
• Higher student achievement
• Better reputation in the community

Parents also benefit from getting more involved in school business. By becoming involved, parents develop more confidence in the school and teachers. Moms and dads also become more confident in their parenting abilities and their children's potential for success.

In this TEDX Talk, Megan Olivia Hall discusses building robust relationships with teachers and parents.

Better Nutrition and Fitness

Obesity is becoming a national epidemic in the United States, and

In a country as diverse as the United States, where nearly 18% of the population’s native language is not English, public schools have embraced the linguistic challenge presented by immigrant students. A rising number of public schools are gaining recognition for their outstanding efforts in working with immigrant students and non-English speaking learners. In fact, according to The Statesman, ELL students across the nation have made significant gains on standardized tests over the past three years.

The ELL Concern

The English Language Learner (ELL) population in the United States has grown significantly in the last several decades. While only 9 percent of students in 1979 reportedly spoke a non-English language at home, as of 2007, 20 percent of students claimed to speak a non-English language at home.

By law, public schools are mandated to provide the appropriate language and academic support for English Language Learners (ELLs), but some school districts have failed dismally in judging test scores.

Subsequently, the U.S. Education Department Office for Civil Rights began investigating school districts accused of not meeting the rights of their immigrant students. Specifically, the Education Department is looking into California’s Los Angeles Unified School District, as only 3 percent of its ELLs have achieved a “proficient” score on their high school math and English tests. Due to this low success rate, leaders seek to “determine whether those students are being denied a fair education.”

This video looks at the marginalized nature of the ELL

In an age of perfect SAT scores, 4.5 GPAs, and the most competitive college admissions in history, some students are gaining an edge by obtaining their associate's degree before their high school diploma!

Many "underage" students opting to take college courses are enrolled in "early college high schools," Other public schools nationwide provide students with dual enrollment programs that help them earn their associate's degree during high school.

Doubling the Degrees

As a brainchild of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the "early college high school" trend is growing. Since 2002, more than 200 schools across 24 states and in Washington DC have been designated as early college campuses, according to the Early College High School Initiative. Specifically designed to cultivate the academic achievement of all students across socioeconomic, cultural, and language barriers, these high schools have helped many students obtain their associate's degree or earn credit towards their bachelor's degree – all while enrolled in high school. Better yet, students from these high schools make all this college credit tuition-free.

While most assume that only the "brightest and best" high school students can earn college degrees while in high school, this is not the case. In fact, according to The Washington Post, "Programs that allow students to earn college credit while in high school sound as if they have been designed for the smartest, most