In this post we will take a look at charter schools and regular public schools and compare the similarities and differences between the two. Charter schools are actually a type of public school and receive public funding, just like regular public schools. Charter schools may also receive private funds, giving them extra money to work with during the school year. Unlike a regular public school, charter schools are not “zoned” by area, anyone that is interested in attending a charter school can apply for admission. Each charter school uses their own methods for determining admissions. Generally the founders and those employed there will have the first options for having their children attend. If the charter school has more applicants than they are able to support, a lot of them will use a lottery system and then draw out the number of students they can accommodate. In comparison, public schools are zoned by physical area and don’t have a choice in who they let in.

Many charter schools will elect to have school uniform and as such a lot of people mistakenly think they are a  private school. But charter schools are actually much different from privates schools. Because charter schools are public schools, they are not allowed to charger tuition.  The big difference in a charter school compared to a public school is the fact that they are not under the same strict regulations as public schools so they are better able to accommodate the needs of their students. Charter schools will often choose a particular subject or area to focus on and will have additional classes in these areas. Charter schools also have a lot more flexibility in the number of students they have and how they arrange their schedule. In comparison, public schools all follow a basic schedule and have strict standards and testing required to put kids into a special education class or gifted program. At a charter school they have a lot more freedom in such areas. For instance they may choose to have everyone doing math during the same hour and those students that excel in math may go with the grade a year or two above them so that they are learning at the level they are at. If a child is struggling in reading he/she may go with the grade younger so as not to be left behind in his/her class. 

One of the greatest challenges of a public school is to teach a whole group of children, that are all at different achievement levels and have different learning styles, in one setting. Many charter schools understand this and will use the flexibility of the charter school environment to better accommodate the needs of every student. Most charter schools are very focused on academic achievement and will have specific achievement goals that are detailed within the school’s charter. As such, charter schools may not offer as many sports programs or extra-curricular activities, which usually isn’t a big deal considering many towns have recreational or city leagues that allow kids to still participate in such events, even if they aren’t offered these programs through the charter school.  

One big question is where does the funding come from? If the state is now providing additional funding to charter schools, isn’t that just hurting the regular public schools by taking funds away from them? Generally what happens, the charter school will receive a per pupil amount of state aid that is taken from the district in which the student resides. Thus the funds are simply being transferred from the school they would go to if the child went to the school he/she is zoned for, to the charter school that he/she is attending. The first charter school in the United States opened in Minnesota in 1992. As of 2011 Minnesota has 149 registered charter schools.

Academic Achievement of Charter Schools vs Public Schools

So what is the academic achievement of a charter school compared to those of public schools? According to a study conducted by the Center for Research on Education Outcomes at Stanford University, 17% of charter of charter schools reported academic gains that were significantly higher than those of public schools, 46% showed no difference and 37% were significantly lower. Overall, it doesn’t appear that charter schools are faring any better than regular public schools. Of course these numbers vary from school to school and area to area. If your students are in a regular public school with very low academic achievement results and there is a charter school near that has very high academic achievement, the charter school may very well be your best option. Be sure to do some research to find the best options for your children.

Let’s take a look at the difference in homonyms, homographs, and homophones to see if this can help clear up some confusion. A homonym is words that have the same spelling and pronunciation but different meaning. A word like lying has two different meanings: to lie down; to tell an untruth. These words are usually pretty easy to tell apart by looking at them in context. Reading a sentence can help the reader understand how the word is being used and thus the meaning of the word within the context.

Homographs are words with the same spelling but different pronunciation and meaning some examples include: wind, bow,  and wound. When reading the word on its own one person will think it is one word while another may read it as a completely different word. Let’s look at the above examples in a sentence to get a little better understanding.

• Wind: The wind is blowing very hard today. Please wind the string into a ball.
• Bow: That was a beautiful performance, please take a bow. Come to our archery shop to see the new bow we just got in stock.
• Wound: She is all wound up tonight, what can we do to settle her down? That is a deep wound it may need stitches. 

Next, lets take a look at homophones. These are words with the same pronunciation but different spelling and meaning. Words like  to, too, two and pare, pair, pear fall into this category. Just looking at these words it is obvious they are very different words but when you hear them, they sound exactly the same. Some of them are easy to tell about. Two is a number and is not often confused with to or too but because to and too are also similar in meaning, they are often confused. Too means in excess. One can remember this by remember that it has “excessive” o’s in the spelling. When looking at the words pair, pare, and pear one has to understand the different meanings. Pair is a set of something. Pare is to cut off the outer edge or trim something. Pear is a fruit.

Other commonly confused words include its vs it’s cant vs can’t and other similar confusion. The best way to know what form to use is to remember that the word with an apostrophe in it is a contraction, combining two words together. “It is time to go” is the same as “It’s time to go.” Its is the possessive form of the word it.  An example: The car has a mind of its own. Cant is similar in that cant means the angle of something whereas can’t is a contraction for the words can not.  For this type of confusion just try replacing the word with the two separate words to see if it makes sense.

Whatever the circumstances may be surrounding back to school, planning some back to school activities to make the transition a little easier may be very helpful for everyone. Anytime things are very unorganized and sort of up in the air, it leaves a feeling of uneasiness in everyone. Making a plan and sticking to it can help ease the transition back to school, settling nerves and making home a much happier place. Taking the time to let each child visit his/her school before the first day can be reassuring because students will know where they are going and who their teacher is. They may even get the chance to meet a couple of other students in the same class.

Making back to school shopping a special one on one experience with each child can also reduce some of the stress of this back to school activity. It may take a little more planning and scheduling, but will be will worth it in the end. When mom is over tired and trying to help 2 or 3 or more kids get everything they need for school, dragging little ones from store to store and mall to mall is enough to make anyone crazy. Taking one child at a time, perhaps even going through some ads and making a plan of what stores you will visit can help tremendously. This will also help each child realize how important he/she is to you and give them some one on one time that each child needs. For some families this just isn’t a possibility. If you have to take all the kids together try to break it up in to two or three days. Maybe one day for shoe shopping, one day for jeans and under clothing and one day for shirts and jackets. Make sure to have drinks and food so that no one is run ragged.

The welcome back to school will be much more welcoming if each child is prepared, rested, and relaxed. Understanding that most of the stress of going back to school just comes from the fear of the unknown can help to alleviate some of the stress. Talk to your children about other years they have had successful back to school experiences or other times they had to do something they were unsure of to help them realize that they can do it and that it wont be as bad as they fear it could be. For most children, a parent taking the extra time to talk to them about what is going to happen and what they can expect goes a long way. Just knowing that his/her parent cares about what he/she is feeling and that they are there to support them can make a big difference. Make back to school time a celebration. Have a special breakfast or dinner, maybe even go out for ice cream. Do what you can to make this a time to look forward to, not a time to fear.

There are various types of post secondary education including:

• College
• University
• Community or Junior college
• Training programs
• Trade, vocational or technical school

While some of these types of post secondary education may seem similar or the same thing, they are actually different and can benefit students in different ways.

In college, students will attend a post secondary institutions that offers its students an associates or bachelors degree option in either art or science. An associate degree typically takes up to two years to complete for a full-time student, and a bachelor degree usually takes about four years to complete for a full-time student. Traditional publicly funded colleges are different from a university even though they offer four-year degrees. A college usually does not offer masters degrees and is only accredited by the state to a certain level. There are some colleges that are considered private because they are funded separately from the public colleges in the state.

In a university, the students can also receive, associates and bachelors degrees as well as graduate and doctorate degrees. The state has accredited the public institution as to be able to offer the level of education associated with a university. This level of accreditation also affects the amount of funding that can be received from the state toward the operation of the university.

Community colleges or junior colleges are simply two-year schools that only offer associate degrees or certificate programs. There are many different types of careers that do not need a four-year or higher degree. This is when community college is a great option because it is generally less expensive to take classes and complete a degree at a community college.

Trade schools, also known as technical or vocational schools, are growing in popularity among adults as well as recent high school graduates. They are typically programs that only last six months to 18 months and train you for a specific career. They are less time-consuming and generally cost less than a university or college. If you need additional training for a career you area already in, this type of schooling is a great tool to help keep you current and competitive in your current job market.

As you can see, there are many types of post secondary educational choices to choose from when trying to see where you want to go in life. Be sure to find out the requirements needed for the type of job or career you may be interested in before making any decisions.

Source: 2.ed.gov

For some parents summer camp for kids during summer vacation is simply a way to keep the kids entertained. In today’s society many families are led by a single parent that works many hours or two parents that work at lesast part-time and many full-time. For these families having children home 24 hours a day for several weeks creates some scheduling challenges. For younger kids it is impossible to simply leave the kids at home alone all day and a summer camp make be a reasonable alternative to sending children to daycare all day every day. For older children it may be possible to leave the children home alone but parents also understand the problems that arise from teens spending too much time alone and unsupervised. Educational summer camps or even summer camp jobs may be a great options for these older teens that don’t need “daycare” but need something productive to do during the summer. Not only are they continuing to learn, which will certainly get them off to the right start for the next school year, but they can learn many additional leadership skills that will help them throughout life.

Let’s look at some of the types of summer camps to better understand what is available and what may be the best summer vacation option for your situation. Summer day camps are one option. This type of summer camp may be ideal for a family with younger children that need to be supervised all day while a parent(s) is working. Most summer day camps will run for the majority of the school summer vacation and will last for the bulk of the regular “business day”. This can be an alternative to daycare and can help provide continuing education for children throughout their summer vacation from school, yet still gives parents and children time together everyday. Another option for children that are a little older and are okay with spending a few weeks away from home is an overnight summer camp. This type of summer camp is the image most people think of when they think of summer camp. Send the kids off to a cabin in the woods where they are supervised but have something to do all day everyday for a set number of weeks.

Academic summer camps are another possibility. Some may call this summer school and while there is often a negative connotation with summer school, many people think summer school is just for dumb kids that can’t learn as much as everyone else during the school year, but this should not be the case. There are many academic summer camps that are used to provide further educational opportunities that are not available to students in a particular area. These academic summer camps look excellent on college admission applications and can provide a real advantage for kids that are interested in academic success and achievement.

There are many benefits of summer camps. Don’t choose the first one you come across. Talk to some parents in your area. Do some research to find the one that will best fit the needs and desires of your children and family. Ask about scholarship and financial assistance programs. Whether you are looking for a summer sports camp or an educational opportunity to help further a child’s educational goals and aspirations, there are many options out there. Take the time to do the research and find the right summer vacation summer camp for the kids in your life.

Programs for troubled teens
Many teens may need more professional counseling and guidance to help reform their troubled teen behavior. If you visit FamilyFirstAid.org for information on boarding schools, the website offers regularly updated articles about youth programs, treatment centers and speciality boarding schools for various teen issues. Learn about what questions you need to ask, what qualifications to look for, where you can get tuition assistance, and many other aspects to consider when searching for boarding school options.

These programs include:

• Top rated youth program
• Programs based on location
• Residential treatment centers
• Boarding schools for boys and girls
• Christian boarding schools
• Individual education plans
• Character and self-esteem building programs
• Drug and alcohol addiction assistance
• ADHD treatment
• Specialized help for struggling and troubled teens

If you visit FamilyFirstAid.org for information on boarding school and treatment center options, you will find a variety of articles covering teen help options as well as tips on parenting your teen. Teens are going through some of the most intense emotional issues they have yet to experience in life. Helping your child deal with these issues can be tough and might require outside assistance. FamilyFirstAid.org provides parents with tons of resources to help figure out what the best plan is in helping your teen to recover.

FamilyFirstAid.org works with speciality boarding school and treatment centers in locations throughout the United States. Be sure to seek information on the FamilyFirstAid.org website to find out more about how to find the locations of these boarding schools and treatment centers as well as information on pricing and how to get assistance in paying for tuition. The goal of FamilyFirstAid.org is to provide parents with resources to find a boarding schools that specialize in educating teens while teaching them respect, self-confidence and how to make appropriate choices in their lives.

There are many types of boarding schools and most of them are focused on academic achievement. You may have a hard time find a boarding school for a troubled teen. If your teen has issues that are severe you may consider a residential treatment center or behavior modification program first and then look into a boarding school to keep them in a controlled environment that will help prevent a relapse. Most teens that relapse into bad behaviors do so because they go back to the same environment they were in before and are presented with all the same temptations and negative influences. A boarding school can help them focus on their education and help them achieve new goals.

Visit FamilyFirstAid.org for more information on boarding schools today.

The implementation of school uniforms became a big deal in public schools following President Bill Clinton’s State of the Union Address in 1996. Prior to this, less than one percent of public schools required students to wear a uniform. New studies like the one published by two University of Houston researchers in 2010 found that school uniform statistics enforce the idea that the requirement of school uniforms in public schools may indicate improvement in attendance as well as behavior in many schools especially high schools. The new school uniform statistics also show that school uniforms reduce the likelihood that female students would leave the district for other educational opportunities like switching schools or dropping out altogether. However, that is the fullest extent of the impact, according to the new school uniform statistics.

School uniform statistics show the states with the most widespread use of school uniforms include:

• California
• New York
• Texas
• Pennsylvania
• District of Columbia
• Louisiana
• Michigan
• Florida
• Georgia

Cities with the most widespread use of school uniforms include:

• New Orleans – 95 percent
• Cleveland – 85 percent
• Chicago – 80 percent
• Boston – 65 percent
• Miami – 60 percent
• Cincinnati – 50 percent

Other countries outside of the United States are more likely to have school uniform requirements in public schools. School uniform statistics show use of school uniforms is high in the United Kingdom, many Spanish-speaking countries, and many other areas across Europe. However, in the United States, 55 percent of all public schools require a strict school dress code. This ensemble typically requires a polo shirt, and nice slacks for boys as well as a similar dress for girls. It often depends on if the school is located inner city, or in suburbs or rural areas.

In some areas of the country, for example Long Beach, Calif., there was a significant decline in crime rates, school suspensions, sex offenses and vandalism incidents, according to an article in Psychology Today in 1999. Overall, the school uniform statistics indicate levels of success when used as a requirement for students in public schools particularly secondary level education schools across the country.

Sources:

http://nces.ed.gov

http://www.class.uh.edu/faculty/simberman/gentile_imberman_2010.pdf

Compulsory Education Age and Number of Years

In the United States children are expected to attend public school, private school, parochial school, or home school to receive minimum educational instruction. Where a child goes to school is left up to the parent, as long as the school selected meets minimum educational requirements (Homeschool curriculum may need to be approved in some states). The age at which a child is required to begin their formal education varies by state. The youngest required start age is age 5 and the oldest start age is age 8. Children are then required to stay in an appropriate education program until they meet a minimum age, or reach a minimum achievement level (e.g. earn a high school diploma). This age requirement ranges from 16 to 18  years of age, depending on your state of residence. There are 14 states that require only 9 years of education and 4 states requiring 13 years of education. The most popular number of years required is 10 as determined by that being the requirement in 19 states. See the chart in this Compulsory Education article, for a list of specific state requirements.  

Compulsory Education Exemptions

There are a number of reasons that a child may be exempt from the regular compulsory education laws. The most common reasons a state will not enforce certain compulsory education laws and requirements are as follows:

• Children are physically unable to attend school
• Children are mentally disabled
• Children meet a certain designated education level (e.g. earn a high school diploma)
• Are employed

There have been a number of additional court cases involving parents seeking exemptions for their children for a number of reasons including, safetly or welfare issues, child reaching the age of majority, child becomes physically or mentally disabled, curriculum violates religious beliefs or practices, and distance from child’s home to the nearest school. Each of these have been accepted by some courts on a case by case basis according to compulsory education information found on enotes.com. Enotes also details some cases presented and rejected by courts including,  a parent’s belief that a given teacher is unqualified to teach, a parent’s belief that the school isn’t doing a good job of educating his/her child(ren), and objections to racial integration on religious grounds.

Penalties for Non-Compliance with Compulsory Education Laws

The penalties for noncompliance with compulsory education laws, in almost every state, will result in misdemeanor charges with fines ranging from $20 to $100 for first time offenders and upwards of $1,000 for repeat offenders, depending upon the jurisdiction. Most states also have an option of sentencing the parents to up to 30 days in jail. Other states will provide alternatives such as community service or counseling.  

For specific information regarding compulsory education laws and exemptions in your local area contact the Department or Board of Education or the Office or Department of Public Instruction.

Sources: educationbug.org, enotes.com

Educationbug.org recently launched a new section of the site featuring a series of articles exploring some of the most popular phrases and sayings of the modern day English language.
The articles take a look at where some of these commonly used idioms come from and what they mean. Who knew the popular phrase “Doubting Thomas” is actually a phrase coined from a biblical reference to describe a skeptic.  Saint Thomas, one of Jesus Christ’s 12 apostles, was famously known for refusing to believe Jesus’ had been resurrected following his crucifixion. Thomas refused this claim he had gotten the chance to feel Jesus’ wounds for himself. However, once Jesus presented him with the opportunity to feel his wounds, Thomas accepted it as truth.

Popular phrases and sayings like this one and many others are explored in this series of articles to help inform students, parents and teachers about some of the most popular expressions we use today. Many of these expressions go back hundreds of years like the popular expression an “Eye for an Eye and a Tooth for a Tooth.” This saying used to describe equal justice for the crime committed was derived from Hammurabi’s Code. King Hammurabi instituted this code during his reign of the Babylonian Kingdom from 1792 to 1750 B.C. It is the oldest formal set of laws known to exist.

A few of these popular expressions explored on Educationbug.org do not have documented proof of origin and have been debated among scholars for centuries like “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” The commonly used idiom means it is better to appreciate having little in life rather than risk too much and lose everything. The saying can be referenced in Old Latin cultures as well as historical Irish documentation. The saying clearly did not start out in America and it remains unclear how it expanded and got to the states and became the popular saying we know and use today. The article takes a look at the various spots of origin of this saying among many others.  Other popular sayings like “cry wolf” and “death and taxes” are also features on the website.

New articles featuring more of these popular idioms and expressions and the meaning and origin behind them are posted regularly on Educationbug.org.

Fist let’s look at the pros and cons of private school education.

Pros:

• Focus on a specific topic or area of interest
• Generally smaller class sizes
• Typically higher quality books and educational supplies
• More up-to-date technology resources
• More challenging curriculum
• Many have a religious base

Cons:

• Cost, most private schools are quite expensive
• Teachers do not have to have a teaching degree
• Not as many subject choices
• Generally do not provide “special education” classes
• Most require the student to pass an entrance exam
• Most are religious based

Again, it will depend on what you are looking for whether or not these pros and cons are an issue for your child or family. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons that we have found many people list when it comes to public school education.

Pros:

• Larger curriculum selection
• Builds a community relationship for parent and child
• Access to many sports programs
• Access to music programs and arts programs
• Teachers must be certified educational instructors
• Low cost

Cons:

• Larger class sizes
• Exposure to undesirable lifestyles and activities
• Classes taught to mid-level learner standards, advanced learners may not be challenged enough
• Limited learning materials and/or out-dated equipment and resources
• Less in-school days per year
• More outdated textbooks

From this simple comparison it seems that if money isn’t an issue and you want your child to get the best, specialized, education they can you may want to choose a private school as your education choice. If money is a main concern and you just want to make sure that your child gets a broad education that will prepare them for life, public schools may be  your best choice. Typically, a private school education is going to be a much bigger investment from both parent and child, not only financially but in the amount of time and effort that will be required as well. Many private schools will teach with morals and religion as a basis, this is very different from public schools where they are not allowed to teach anything with a religious influence.  Always consider the individual needs of your child, as long as you are doing what is best for them, they can achieve success in either a public or private school.