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.

Denver Schools want parents to know just how powerful they are in educating their own children. Parents are a student’s rock and their foundation for learning. Parents are obligated to provide their children with education even when their students are not inside the school system. The Denver Schools especially wants to educate parents on the power they hold over their children with regards to simple conversations and are encouraging parents to talk to their students about sex at an age that they feel is most appropriate.

Denver Schools’ Tips for Talking to Your Child about Sex

Denver Schools understand how awkward the “sex talk” can be between a parent and their child. But, they also know that parents talking to their children about sex can play a very important role in his or her sexual development in future years. Typically, the more open and honest parents are now, the better educated the child will be later. Denver Schools offer tips o parents to engage in a discussion about sex with their children:

? Age Levels: The child’s age and maturity level should be a major factor in knowing the right time to talk with them. Parents should make the talk gear toward their level of maturity. A younger child might not need to know all the details that an adolescent might need to know. Denver Schools suggest that parents keep the language as simple as possible for younger children.

? Start Early: Denver Schools suggests that parents start talking to their children at an early age. They stress that the talk should not simply be about intercourse, however. They need to know how the body matures as well. A younger child will be more curious about the differences between genders than intercourse. Denver Schools encourage parents to be sure they use the correct names for all body parts when trying to explain these differences. It will help to avoid confusion.

? Be Available: After parents speak to their children, Denver Schools suggests that parents mention that their children can always come to them if they ever have any questions. It is also encouraged to recognize the one parent talk with their child that it is over. Different talks held at different stages of life are the best way for a child to learn the intricacies about sex. In fact, the earlier a parent starts with their child the easier it will be as they grow up and can understand more. Remember that children know when something makes a parent uncomfortable, so parents should treat discussions on the body and sex very matter-of-factly. If children realize that talking about sex makes a parent feel uncomfortable, the child might not come to the parent if they have any additional questions.

Overall, Denver Schools are encouraging parents to promote sexual education in the home in order to give parents the power to educate their children on very important topics. The more strength one has as a parent, the better off the relationship with a child will be.

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 Denver Public Schools