Is a Major Overhaul Coming to Texas High Schools?

According to a new study, cyberbullying is becoming a prevalent problem at high schools across the country. Researchers also found that teenagers are spending more of their free time online than ever before, which could play a role in the increase in cyberbullying noted in the study. For parents and teachers, the news is concerning since most are unaware of precisely what goes on between students through texting and online social networking. Awareness of the problem is just the first step in protecting students from electronic bullying and the sometimes tragic consequences that can result.

The study was performed by researchers at Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York and presented recently to the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in Washington, D.C. According to a report in Science Daily, researchers analyzed data from the 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which involved more than 15,000 students at public and private high schools across the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducts a survey every two years to monitor high-risk behaviors that lead to death, disability, and social problems. This is the first time the survey included questions about cyberbullying.

This video describes ten forms of cyberbullying.

White Female Students Most Common Victims of Cyberbullying

According to a report in the Examiner, the new study found that 16 percent of high school students have been victims of cyberbullying in

As the school year is winding down, many parents are faced with concerns over how to combat “summer learning loss.” This issue, which has been well documented through decades of research, affects low-income kids and students already lagging behind their peers academically the most. In the past, the School District of Philadelphia has offered a number of summer programs through the school system for these at-risk students. However, budget cuts have forced the district to pare down to the bare minimum, which is leaving some students in the cold for the summer months.

Programs Shut Down Despite Proven Benefits

The shutdown of summer programs can be traced to a lack of funding, rather than a lack of benefits. In November 2010, Philly.com did a report on how summer programs offered by the school district helped a record number of students improve their academic performance during the regular school year. During the 2010 summer, more than 60,000 students participated in summer programs through the district, which ranged from kindergarten through high school.

The district found through scores on math and reading tests administered to 3^rd-8^th graders found that students that attended the summer programs for 16 days or more made significant learning gains. Those that did not participate in summer programs actually lost academic ground during the summer months. In addition, the district’s program that allowed high school students to earn up to three credits in summer school resulted in a record number of

Chicago school officials may have made their decision to close 54 of the city’s schools official, but that hasn’t stopped the fight from teachers, students and parents who had direct stake in those schools. As recently as last week, students have staged protests over the closing of their schools, and members of the Chicago Teachers Union continue to make their voices heard through public protests and lawsuits. In the midst of the controversy, new information has surfaced suggesting Chicago Public Schools may not have been as forthcoming with information used to determine school closings as they could have been.

Protests Staged

The Grio reports that dozens of members of the Chicago Teachers Union were recently arrested during three days of protests that culminated in a march on City Hall. Protests began on the South and West sides of the city before the protestors turned their sights on the city’s capitol building. Those doing business at City Hall during the protests had to weave around teacher union members to arrive at the offices they needed. It was when protestors began to block elevator entrances throughout the building that arrests were made on trespassing charges.

Members of the teachers union, as well as parents, students and other in the Chicago community have voiced concerns over school closures. One of the primary worries is over students having to cross gang lines to get to their newly assigned schools. Some school board members have also called

Summer learning loss is a concern for parents and teachers alike, as research further documents the reality of this trend. The National Summer Learning Association cites research spanning 100 years that consistently shows students score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than they do on those same examinations before summer break begins. Evidence also points to the fact that summer learning loss contributes significantly to the widening achievement gap between low-income and middle-income students as they progress through school. What can parents do to prevent this trend with their own children? Check out these ten summer options to keep your kids learning all summer long.

Talk to Your Child’s Teacher

A report at Today advises parents to talk to their child’s teacher prior to the end of the school year to get recommendations on material to cover over the summer. The teacher can alert you to potential gaps in your child’s learning that you can work to fill during the break. Some teachers will even have reading lists or workbook selections that would benefit your child’s summer learning program most.

This video offers parents some tips for summer learning.

The Summer Reading Adventure

Local libraries are a boon to parents and kids over the summer months. Many have summer reading programs, complete with enticing prizes if kids read a certain number of books or log