Parental Involvement from K-12

Despite popular community and school programs that condemn the use and abuse of drugs, research and reports reveal that teen drug use is on the rise. As published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), researcher Neil Swan illuminates the many problems arising in teen behavior and drug usage habits. According to Swan’s report: “The percentage of America's 8th, 10th, and 12th graders who use marijuana continued to increase last year […] Students' use of several other categories of drugs also escalated, while anti-drug attitudes among teenagers deteriorated, the survey found.”

As the perceived harm of drugs dwindles, and as teens encounter drugs regularly, either in schools, the media, or their personal lives, experts fear that the harmful patterns of teen drug abuse will continue to escalate.

Teens and Drug Abuse

When Do Drug Habits Begin?

While drug abuse can begin at any age, recent studies reveal that middleand high school students engage in harmful drug abuse behaviors. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s Monitoring the Future survey, prescription drug painkillers and inhalants are increasing among teens. For example, OxyCotin, a powerful narcotic, was used by 9.3% of 12^th graders, 6.2% of 10^th graders, and 2.5% of 8^th graders in 2004 – all higher levels than in prior years.

What Inspires Harmful Drug Choices?

As drug use continues to present a problem among adolescents and teens,

The Center for Education Policy predicts that by 2012, nearly 74% of all public schools in America will require students to pass an exit exam to graduate. Currently, many schools across the country have already implemented mandatory exit-course tests, often referred to as “EOCs” ("which" stands for “End of "course” exam)."According to interviews and surveys, “state-e" education officials reported many reasons for adopting end-of-course exams. Almost all states that have adopted or are moving toward end-of-course exams reported that they are doing so to improve overall accountability, increase academic rigor, and achieve alignment between state standards and curriculum.”

An Ove"View of Exit Exams

The national education initiative “NChildrenil" Left Behind” is considered one of the leading causes and catalysts for the rise in exit exams. No Child Left Behind requires all schools to submit formal standardized test scores, which will be utilized to assess and review each school’s ance. To better prepare students for standardized tests, many schools have implemented EOCs and graduation tests to provide students with added and consistent testing practice.

A graduation exit exam is often a project or test that assesses a student's understanding of their high school educational experience; an EOC, on the other hand, is designed to evaluate a student of a particular class/course content and information.

In addition to providing students with beneficial testing practice, many school and state leaders assert that exit exams are being instituted to hold all students equally accountable for the information they were required

As younger adolescents move from the smaller middle school setting to the larger and more diverse high school environment, many kids experience anxiety and worry about the shifting dynamics and expectations. According to researchers Mizelle, Phelan, Yu, and Davidson, “Young adolescents […] are concerned about being picked on and teased by older students, having harder work, making lower grades, and getting lost in a larger, unfamiliar school.”

Common Struggles for New 9th-Grade Students

As they move to the high school setting, many 9th-grade students commonly experience a significant decline in both grades and attendance. This often occurs as a result of the new social opportunities and the greater option of choices for young students, in addition to the pressures of fitting in and finding their own comfortable peer groups.

In addition, according to ERIC Digest, these students tend to “view themselves more negatively and experience an increased need for friendships.” This is a relatively universal experience for young adolescents, as studies reveal this to be true for even honors or “high achieving” students.

How Can You Help Keep Your Child on Track?

Transition Programs

To help young students transition to the new school setting, recent studies reveal that students who take part in middle school “transition programs” are able to move through the shifting school settings with far less of a struggle.

As Eric Digest explains, “Research has found […] that when middle school students took part in a high school transition program with several diverse articulation

The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is the largest volunteer child advocacy organization in the United States. From its small beginning in 1897, the PTA has emerged as a powerful voice for children at the national, state, and local levels. This article describes the role of the National PTA and discusses how the organization assists parents and teachers working together at the local level.

Overview

The PTA has been instrumental in the passage of several ground-breaking initiatives for the welfare of children, including child labor laws, the juvenile justice system, hot lunch programs, mandatory immunizations, and kindergarten classes. Its purpose has always been to better the lives of children by:

• Serving as a voice for children before government and other decision-making bodies
• Developing resources for families and communities
• Advancing the education and well-being of every child

Some of the strategies that the PTA uses in accomplishing its purpose are:

• Promoting the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community, and place of worship
• Raising the standards of home life
• Recommending laws for the care and protection of children and youth
• Bringing parents and educators together so that they can work effectively for the education of children and youth

This TEDTalk discusses the importance of a solid parent-teacher relationship.

Promoting Pro-Child Policies

The National PTA speaks out to Congress and the general public about issues affecting children and their education. Subjects currently being addressed at the national level include parental involvement,

The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is a nationwide network of parents and teachers working together in national, state, and local organizations to improve the lives of children. Membership at the local level is open to anyone who has an interest in children. There are now close to 6 million members in 23,000 local chapters. Joining the PTA is an excellent way for parents to get involved in their children's education. Local PTAs throughout the country are making a difference in the quality of children's education.

A local PTA chapter is part of a national network of organizations working together for children's interests. Most parents join a local unit, which automatically gives them membership in the state and national PTAs. The local unit can represent a single school or a group of schools. Local units have the autonomy to establish their own priorities, select the national programs in which they will participate, assess the needs of the school, and decide how to raise needed funds.

This video explains reasons for joining the PTA.

Fundraising

Local units frequently hold fundraisers, the proceeds from which go to support school programs, building maintenance or improvements, and educational events. The following are examples of how local PTAs can improve a child's education.

The children at Washington Elementary School in San Gabriel, California, are enjoying their art classes once again this year, thanks to a $6,000 donation by