Chicago Schools are participating the in National School Lunch Program in order to ensure all of their students have the opportunity for proper nutrition needed to grow healthy ands realize their educational potential. The growing cost of living in the Chicago area has made it increasingly difficult for some parents to afford the proper diet for their children as healthy food has become so expensive now. Even the cost of a gallon of milk is nearly double its price of two years ago. Children in Chicago Schools will now have many options available to them for a nutritious lunch, breakfast, or after school snack.

National School Lunch Program in Chicago Schools

? National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The NSLP in Chicago Schools is completely voluntary, but many are participating in it because it provides cash reimbursement for schools that participate. Essentially, Chicago Schools participate in order to give your child a low or free of cost meal. In providing the meals, the government gives those participating Chicago Schools cash to keep the program going.

? Snack Services: Not all of Chicago Schools provide snack services after school, but they usually will if that school also has an after school program. The after school program is designed to keep children inside of the Chicago Schools learning and being constructive versus the temptations and safety issues facing them as latch key kids. They provide a healthy snack so kids can bridge the gap between lunch and dinner.

? Milk Program: Chicago Schools also have a milk program that provides free milk to those who cannot afford it. A cash reimbursement is also given to the schools that do this. The only stipulation is that a school with the milk program cannot have another NSLP program too. They have to choose which is the more pressing ned among its students.

Overall, it is nice to know that Chicago Schools are contributing to the overall health of its students. After all, a healthy child is a happier child and nutrition certainly contributes toward the educational success of children. It has been noted that the NSLP should increase its quality and control ensuring that its food be healthier. NSLP serves mostly processed foods that are increasingly under fire for containing ingredients that lead to an unhealthy lifestyle. They are used simply out of economics. Some argue that the NSLP in Chicago Schools are contradicting their very goals in failing to provide a truly healthy and nutritious lunch. Those critical of the current program believe the Chicago Schools should find more funding in order to provide a lunch that doesn’t just claim to be nutritious, but actually is nutritious. Of course the challenge is finding more funds.

As a parent, you’ve seen your child’s school lunch menu. How nutritious is it really? If you have concerns, you can always call your child’s school to ask for the nutritional information available or to just voice a concern about the food service system. The more parents voicing opinions, the responsive School Districts are to needs for change.

Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information please visit Chicago Public Schools

Charlotte is one of the fastest growing cities in one of the fastest growing regions in the Country. School districts can find the challenge of maintaining educational quality in the face of swelling student bodies and squeezed budgets daunting. Typically, academic standards and results slip when so many children are flooding the school system at one time. But, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools know their weaknesses and have a plan for the future.

What are Charlotte Schools’ Specific Goals for the Future?

? Lowering Ratios: Ratios are a part of life for most school districts and the Charlotte Schools are no different. The teacher student ratios are what are most concerning administrators and faculty alike. As more children move attend the district schools, more and more pressure is placed on existing teachers because their classroom numbers keep growing. Charlotte Schools are responding by hiring more teachers to lower the ratio of teachers to students. After all, the more interaction that a child has with his or her teacher, the better chance for academic success he or she will have.

? High Standards: Charlotte Schools desires to have best schools in the area. They aim to accomplish this goal by remaining uncompromised on their time tested academic standards but ensuring that new teacher hires meet a quality that will be up to the task. The burden of educational accomplishment falls not just at the base of the teachers. It is viewed as a three way contract. Students are expected to be motivated in their education and to learn more as the district expands it’s academic standards instead of contracting them. Administrators will be expected to handle the fiscal responsibility of keeping Charlotte Schools modern while also a desirable place for high quality teachers. Teachers will be expected to develop themselves more professionally, and the entire school will be expected to increase its performance on every level. High standards in Charlotte Schools require that motivated and talented people are putting forth their best effort.

Implementing the Goals of Charlotte Schools

Charlotte Schools need help in implementing their goals. They want parents to provide their children with help he or she needs academically succeed. Such needs include making positive learning environment at home and the encouragement to ask questions about homework or any problem he or she might be facing. In order to achieve high standards, children need their parents. Parents should ensure the child has adequate work space and enough time to finish his or her homework. Most importantly, encourage school attendance. The more he or she attends, the more he or she will learn.

Parents are encouraged to be active within the school district as well. One can see a myriad of volunteer opportunities at their child’s school. Learning is a community event and more should participate in the school system in order to help it run better. Join the PTA. Coach a sport. Get active in children’s education!

Overall, in our Country their seems to be an increasing trend toward placing education further on the back burner in favor of other more interesting things like helping students at home, we’re watching television or surfing the internet with the mentality that learning should only take place at school. This couldn’t be more wrong. Learning in the home begins at birth and into adulthood. If we parents take an active role in their children’s education, efforts like those taking place in the Charlotte Schools will fall well short of their potential.

Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information please visit Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools

The Houston Independent School District (HISD) wants to increase the amount of students that attend college. In order to do this, they are providing students, as well as parents, all the information they need in order to make college happen. Houston Schools believes that college is the best way for a student to succeed in the world.

How are Houston Schools Helping Students Attend College?

The schools in Houston Independent School District, are dedicated to the focus of providing a quality education for all of its students. As part of this focus, the high schools within the district are implementing several “college readiness” programs to expose students to the benefits of a college education and help them understand that college is the way to go to further their success later in life.

The Houston Schools are emphasizing to all of their students the idea that every single one of them can go to college regardless of financial ability. Each student has the potential for college according to Houston Schools and they are gearing themselves toward providing the guidance and advice necessary to prepare their students for college. Such guidance includes early parent and student classes encouraging a college education at the elementary level. These classes, sponsored by the schools of the Houston Independent School District encourage parents to make college a priority in their children’s lives. It also encourages children to start succeeding early.

The Houston High Schools are also offering more Advanced Placement courses to their students as such Advanced Placement work prepare and acclimate students to the college class demands by increasing the work load and changing the curriculum in order to provide more time for scholarly essay writing and reading. A regular class might integrate more activities but an Advanced Placement course is more like a college-class than anything else. If they pass the standardized Advanced Placement test at the end of the year, it will apply as college credit when they do enroll at a college or University.

As part of the college preparedness effort, the Houston Schools are also offering dual-credit courses. Dual-credit courses allow the student to take a class that applies both to his high-school diploma as well as counting toward college credit requirements. It is conceivable that a student in the dual-enrollment program can graduate high-school with nearly an Associates Degree, or much of the general education requirement of college accounted for and be in a position to go to the University level and stay there for as little as two years.

Overall, Houston Schools are dedicated in their pursuit for most children to attend college. In our growing society, a college education is becoming increasingly more important. It is getting harder and harder for those without a college education to live above the poverty line simply because they are unable to make as much money as a college graduate. Encouraging your child to attend college from an early age will ensure that his future in the world will be secure. Houston Schools recommend starting early and taking an active role in your child’s education in order to maximize their achievement.

Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information please visit Houston Independent School District.