The average school system assigns your child to a public school based on your home address.
If you are a parent whose children may be enrolling or are currently enrolled in a public school, you might have some concerns about the educational school system they are attending. Overcrowded classrooms, concerns regarding nutritious lunch options, violence and low test scores are just a few things that might cross your mind. Despite these looming issues, the Institute of Educational Sciences National Center for Education Statistics reported that in the fall of 2010, nearly 49.4 million students were expected to attend public school.
New Technology
Most adults can remember their childhood school experience; with these memories are clear images of a schoolteacher standing at the chalkboard. The chalkboard was the go-to-place for new assignment information, difficult math problems solved in front of the class and where your name would go when you misbehaved. In 2006, however, millions of American classrooms did away with chalkboards, replacing them with SMARTboards. SMARTboards allow teachers the opportunity to bring educational information from across the World Wide Web right into the classroom. In an interview with 22 WWLP News, Alan Katz, the Executive Director of the MLK Junior Charter School, stated, "SMARTboards provide an enhancement to the learning experience for children. Teachers now have a new tool to help students become excited about learning."
Meals Provided at School
Children who enjoy eating healthy food at home can also eat healthily at school.
Public schools are serious about providing nutrient-rich meal options to every student. American public schools are a part of The National School Lunch Program, which is a federally assisted meal program that provides nutritionally balanced lunches to students each school day.
Children are also offered a school breakfast through the School Breakfast Program, which is established at the federal level to be nutritionally balanced, and then administered according to state education agencies before being operated by local school food authorities.
At the beginning of the month, your child should bring home a school meal calendar that allows you to review the meal choices made available. If you find the choices unsatisfactory, you should contact the school's cafeteria director.
Average Class Size
The average class size is important because it is a contributing factor to the type of attention and one-on-one assistance a child receives in the classroom; however, class size is not the main ingredient to quality education. Parental involvement and teaching style is just as influential, if not more so. According to the Institute of Educational Sciences National Center for Education Statistics, "3.3 million teachers are employed through public schools. The average public school student teacher ratio is 15:3."
In several school districts like the School District of Osceola County in Florida, only 18 students are allowed per class in grades Pre-K through third grade, 22 students per class in grades fourth through eighth and 25 students per class in ninth through twelfth grades.
School Violence
The CDC gives mention that school violence is the effect of youth violence that is often experienced in various communities and individual homes. Because school violence goes beyond fatal incidents and injuries, but can also cause emotional and psychological damage, public school districts undergo training courses to prevent and identify potentially violent circumstances. Parents should also be proactive in talking to their child about the social interactions they experience daily. Children should be encouraged to share with a mentor, teacher or parent those incidents where they were threatened or witnessed the threat of a classmate.
Tags: public school, Center Education, Center Education Statistics, class grades, class size, Education Statistics