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2002
2001
2000 [ Top ]
2002 Microsoft Heeds
Parents' Call for Greater Control of Children's Viewing and Internet Surfing Research Finds Link Between Early
Childhood Education and Overall Education Success [ Top ] Helping Youth Transform Their Lives [ Top ] Study Reveals Teens Are Target of Alcohol Advertising 10/4: Alcohol
companies are spending millions of dollars in magazine [ Top ] Study Finds a Conservative Youth Population 10/2: The generation gap
between youths and older adults might not be what [ Top ] Initiative Focuses on Safe School Campuses 10/2: Two years ago,
violence in America's schools dominated the media. [ Top ] Responding to the Financial Crisis in Access to Postsecondary Education 9/27: Two organizations
announced their partnership to respond to what they [ Top ] Americans Want Children to Learn the Bad with the Good 9/25: The United States
will be remembered as one of the most democratic and [ Top ] SCHOOLS CUT COSTS WITH 4-DAY WEEKS 9/15: Bucking a nationwide
trend toward bulking up school calendars, dozens of rural school districts are
actually paring back their work weeks, cramming more academics into four days.
The trade-off: School days are an hour or more longer than in most schools.
Schools find that by knocking off Fridays or Mondays can save money on
transportation, heating and substitute teachers. Advocates say four-day weeks
have other advantages. They leave teachers with fewer interruptions and fewer
student absences. They also cut down on teacher absences and allow schools to
hire fewer substitutes -- the fifth day is used for teacher training or to free
up teachers for personal appointments. School districts in six states --
Louisiana, Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and South Dakota -- are trying
it this year. [ Top ] WIDENING GAP BETWEEN INTERNET-SAVVY STUDENTS AND THEIR SCHOOLS 8/27: A new
report says the "most Internet-savvy (students) - complain that their teachers
don't use the Internet in class or create assignments that exploit great Web
material." Students report that the single greatest barrier to Internet use at
school is the quality of access to the Internet - they say it's too slow and
often, there's too much censorship. They complained about filtering software,
saying it prevented them from reaching legitimate educational materials. The
students said they wanted to use the Internet for more of their schoolwork, but
teachers too often lacked the imagination to use it for anything other than
mundane tasks. [ Top ] BRIGHT FLIGHT: WHY SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE LOSING THEIR BEST TEACHERS 8/27: Today the
search for capable teachers has become a preoccupation of school districts
across the country. In the next decade, according to the National Center for
Education Information, American schools will have to hire an estimated 2.2
million teachers, a trend driven by rising enrollments and mass retirement of
educators from the baby-boom era. One effect is that short-staffed schools,
particularly in cities, are trying to lure teachers not just from nearby towns
or states but from across the country and even around the world. [ Top ] MULTIPLE CHOICES AFTER SCHOOL 8/27: New
research concludes that children in school-based after-school programs benefit
both academically and socially in programs that offer a diverse set of academic
and social activities. This study includes a survey of parents who say
overwhelmingly that after-school programs improved their children's behaviors in
and out of school. Given the emerging debate over whether or not basic skills
can be effectively taught only in programs that exclusively focus on academics
or whether such skills can be taught in a variety of program activities such as
art, sports, book and chess clubs, these new findings are significant. [ Top ] Textbooks Go Digital for Students with Special Needs 8/21: Students
with visual impairments or severe learning disabilities will have unprecedented
access to the contents of textbooks with the nationwide release on September 3,
2002 of digitally recorded textbooks on CD from Recording for the Blind &
Dyslexic... [ Top ] Society Urges Schools to Develop Emergency Plans 8/21: To increase
the safety of the millions of students and teachers now returning to school, the
nonprofit American Society of Safety Engineers recommends that all schools
develop effective policies, plans and procedures to respond to emergencies and
possible acts of future violence... [ Top ] Hands-on Learning Creates Hands-Down Success 8/14: Hands-on
activities, such as building a model of an erupting volcano [ Top ] Quality After-School Programs Improve Children's Ability to Learn 8/9: Working parents and
teachers see after-school programs no longer as optional, but as an essential
support for children as they grow and develop, according to a new national study
of after-school programs, released by the Wallace-Reader's Digest Funds. Nearly
80 percent of parents surveyed in the study said that after-school programs
helped their children cope with behavioral problems and helped them obtain new
skills to meet increased demands in school... [ Top ] Hispanic Outreach Initiative and Online Spanish-Language Resources 8/2: "Los buenos padres no nacen. Se hacen." With this slogan, meaning, "Good parents are not born. They are developed," National PTA announced the launch of its Hispanic Outreach Initiative at its 2002 convention. This outreach program seeks to remove some of the language and cultural barriers that might keep Hispanic families from actively participating in their child's education. Using a variety and language- and culture-sensitive materials, the Hispanic Outreach Initiative will reach out to Spanish-speaking parents who wish to become more involved in their child's education. The initiative will offer a new mentoring program to keep parents involved in their child's school, as well as bilingual resources for Spanish-speaking families. National PTA will launch a series of Spanish-language TV, radio, and billboard ads announcing the campaign. The launch is scheduled to take place this September, and will be tested in three pilot locations - California, Texas, and Florida - before being expanded nationally in 2003. National PTA already offers a variety of Spanish-language resources in the Parent Involvement section of its website, such as
Check the following web address often, as more Spanish-language resources will be added: http://www.pta.org/parentinvolvement/spanish/index.asp [ Top ] Microsoft Give-Back Program to Support PTAs 8/2: Microsoft has created a community give-back program that will help support PTA activities nationwide. Through September 30, Microsoft will give back 5 percent of the purchase price of its products: Microsoft Encarta 2003, Office XP Standard for Students and Teachers, Windows XP Professional, or Wheel Mouse Optical - up to $100,000 to National PTA. These products offer parents solutions for simplifying productivity at home by combining reliable and engaging content with simple, powerful tools. Microsoft and National PTA are also helping parents and children get ready for going back to school through an innovative homework website at http://www.microsoft.com/pta. Visit the site today to learn how technology can make homework easier, access hints and tips for parents to help their children, and learn about homework issues. Stay tuned! The August 16 edition of "National PTA Weekly" will include results of Microsoft's "Calling All Parents" survey, which tested parents on what they really know about their kid's homework. In the meantime, be sure to visit http://www.microsoft.com/pta for program updates. [ Top ] Voters Support School Construction Initiatives 7/27: According to a survey commissioned by Rebuild America's Schools (RAS), a significant majority of American voters favor a public policy directed at rebuilding the country's aging school. Voters understand the positive results from such construction, and they approve of a specific federal funding role. This support cuts across gender, age, income, and political affiliation. Following are the highlights of the poll results:
Opinion Dynamics Corporation conducted the survey among 900 registered voters on June 4-5, 2002, for RAS, a coalition of school districts from around the country and national organizations, including National PTA, that advocate for federal initiatives to help local communities build and modernize public schools. [ Top ] SAT Scoring Change for Students with Disabilities 7/27: On July 15, the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) announced that, as a result of a legal settlement, the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and the College Board will no longer identify students who complete the test with special accommodations. In its press statement, the IDA noted that students with disabilities, such as dyslexia or visual impairments, may be granted accommodations when taking the SAT, which could include receiving extra time to complete the test or having a reader. Prior to this settlement, the SAT scores of such students were "flagged" to identify that the tests were taken under "non-standard conditions." In the summer of 1999, IDA and other disability rights groups joined forces to argue that this practice was discriminatory. Research shows that allowing students with dyslexia to have extended time to complete the SAT--the most frequently requested accommodation--does not skew the reliability of the test. "A person with dyslexia receiving an accommodation to complete a required test does not diminish someone else's accomplishments. It merely allows the person with a disability to show his or her strengths," commented J. Thomas Viall, executive director of IDA. [ Top ] Active Website Helps Kids Tap Into Their Energy 7/1: The
International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation in partnership with
chemistri, an interactive creative agency, unveiled an educational Web site
designed to teach kids and their families how to stay active and lose weight in
order to live healthier lives... [ Top ] Nature Conservancy and Intel Launch Educational Web Site 7/1: The Nature
Conservancy and Intel Corporation have created a new educational Website, to
help teachers, parents, children, residents, and everyone interested in nature,
history and geography to learn more about the BerkshireTaconic Landscape, and
the threats it now faces. The website includes contributions by many regional
experts, ecologists, historians, geologists, naturalists, planners and social
scientists... [ Top ] Burger King Awards $1.8 Million in Scholarships 6/26: With awards totaling
nearly $1.8 million during 2002, the Burger King Scholars Program is awarding
scholarships to 1,797 high school seniors from every state in the country plus
Canada and Puerto Rico to continue their education. According to the company,
these awards make Burger King one of the largest scholarship programs in the
nation... [ Top ] Views from Parents about Special Ed 6/19: The stigma once
attached to children in special education is disappearing from America's public
schools, according to a Public Agenda survey of their parents released today.
But as Congress prepares to take up legislation governing special education in
the public schools, many parents say getting information about services for
their children is often a struggle... [ Top ] Recognizing the Role of School Libraries in Education 6/12: Laura Bush hosted
the first-ever White House conference on school libraries, spotlighting research
that ties academic achievement to strong school library programs. Education,
library, government, and philanthropic leaders from across the country joined
Mrs. Bush and her co-host Dr. Robert Martin, a career librarian and Director of
the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services... [ Top ] School Arts Programs Advance Learning in Other Areas, Study Finds 6/6: "Critical Links:
Learning In The Arts And Student Academic And Social Development," a report
recently released by the Arts Education Partnership, reviews 62 studies which
demonstrate that integrating the arts into the curriculum fosters the
development of learning, critical thinking, and motivation in other
disciplines.... [ Top ] Early Care and Education Act Introduced in Congress 5/31: A bi-partisan group
of senators has introduced the Early Care and Education Act, a $1 billion grant
program designed to encourage states to improve the quality and availability of
early learning opportunities for young children to improve their school
readiness... [ Top ] First Lady Chairs National KidsDay 5/29: Boys & Girls Clubs
of America has announced that Laura Bush has accepted the role of Honorary
Chairperson for National KidsDay, which was launched in 2001 as a day to foster
relationships between adults and children by educating them about the importance
of spending meaningful time together... [ Top ] Star-Studded Interactive CD-ROM Game Launches for Children with Asthma 5/29: The Starbright
Foundation, chaired by Steven Spielberg and General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, today
launched Quest for the Code, an interactive CD-ROM game for children with
asthma. This educational CD-ROM game includes a star-studded cast who help teach
children about asthma and asthma management skills... [ Top ] New Report Examines Nonprofits Operating Commercial Businesses 5/24: A new study,
"Enterprising Nonprofits: Revenue Generation in the Nonprofit Sector," by
Cynthia W. Massarsky and Samantha L. Beinhacker, summarizes the responses from
more than 500 nonprofits as well as experts in the field, with a focus on
nonprofits' business experience and the factors behind successful earned-income
ventures... [ Top ] Grants Go to Teens Who 'Write Off' Acne Anxiety 5/24: The American
Counseling Association is helping high school seniors deal with two key sources
of teenage anxiety: acne and higher education expenses. The ACA will award
"Higher Education Grants" of $1,000 each to 15 seniors intending to pursue a
higher education who submit a 100 to 500-word paragraph on "How acne has
affected you or a friend"... [ Top ] College Prices Outpace Growth in Family Income and Inflation 5/23: Public college and
university tuition requires an ever-larger share of the annual income of most
American families, according to a new report. The report, "Losing Ground",
finds that public higher education has become less affordable for all but the
wealthiest Americans. Early indications show that more ground is being lost
during the current economic downturn... [ Top ] Building a Positive Future for America's Youth 5/23: 4-H has released a
national report that details ways of building a positive future for America's
youth. "The National Conversation on Youth Development in the 21st Century" is
based on input from more than 1,600 community forums in all 50 states and Puerto
Rico involving 50,000 youth and adults of all ages and backgrounds representing
more than 600 organizations... [ Top ] Home Safety Shouldn't Take a Vacation, Even When You Do 5/15: Ask any police chief
what is the single-best deterrent for burglars when your house is vacant, he or
she will likely tell you it's observant neighbors. Just last week in Baltimore
County, police were able to arrest thieves as they were leaving a home while the
owner was away. A neighbor had seen suspicious people lurking around the home
and called police, who arrived just in time to catch the burglars fleeing the
residence... [ Top ] School Defections from PTA are
increasing 5/15: Fort Wayne's PTA
Council seems to be following in its state and national organizations'
footsteps, where secrecy is the byword. According to Charlene Haar, president of
the Education Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., and author of "The Politics
of the PTA," membership in the national PTA is continuing to decline - down some
six million members nationwide since reaching a record 12.2 million in the early
1960s. In Indiana, membership has dropped by almost 11,100 members since 1993,
with a subsequent loss of revenue to the organization of over $16,650. [ Top ] Arts Included as Core Academic Subjects in 2001 Education Act 5/13: Passed in December
2001, the bipartisan education act No Child Left Behind, includes the arts in
the definition of "core academic subjects." A new study states that because of
this designation, the arts can claim their rightful place in standard curricula
as well as reap potential benefit from federal funding programs... [ Top ] PTA Funds Help Schools Meet Needs 5/9: "Sometimes it gets
down to copy paper." But raising money was not why the PTA was founded more than
a century ago. It was formed as an organization to advocate for children's
welfare, National PTA President Shirley Igo said. "Schools are searching
everywhere and anywhere for additional monies. They are in desperate straits for
additional funds," Igo said. "But we don't consider that our role." [ Top ] 'World Children's Day' to Be Held November 20, 2002 4/29:
On November 20, 2002, McDonald's 29,000 restaurants around the world will host
an unprecedented simultaneous fundraiser for children in their communities.
"World Children's Day" at McDonald's was announced by McDonald's Chairman and
CEO, Jack Greenberg, during the company's worldwide franchisee convention in Las
Vegas this week... [ Top ] Judges end porn trial on skeptical note 4/2:
A two-week federal trial to determine how far the government can go to protect
children from pornography on library computers ended on Thursday with judges
openly concerned about whether the latest online smut law from Congress
infringes on free-speech rights... [ Top ] 3/28: Summer will be here
before you know it. Many families, already thinking ahead to warm days and some
time off from work and school, want to make vacation plans that will be enjoyed
by all family members. Consider Familyhostel Learning Vacations in the U.S. and
abroad that can offer three generations of families an excellent opportunity to
combine travel with learning, history, and cultural awareness... [ Top ] Full Health Coverage for Smoking Cessation Treatments Could Save Lives 3/22: Does your health
plan cover medical treatment for respiratory diseases and lung cancer, but not
smoking cessation? Most insurance companies, and even the federal and state
governments, do not fully cover behavioral and pharmacological treatments to
help people quit smoking. But a new study shows that more than 100,000 fewer
lives would be lost to smoking-related deaths cumulatively within the next 20
years, if full coverage was available for existing smoking cessation
treatments... [ Top ] Teens Turn Around Public Spaces 3/21: When you
see a group of teens hanging out in a public place, what is your impression?
Many people think they are a nuisance or their presence in undesirable. Yet,
according to one nonprofit, if given the chance, teens can contribute to
revitalizing public spaces. And, with encouragement, they can create thriving
places of their own... [ Top ] Gateway to Donate 4,500 Computers to Non-Profit Organizations 3/20: In support of their commitment to socially responsible corporate citizenship, following the completion of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Gateway will donate up to 4,500 computers. Grant consideration is limited to eligible organizations recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a nonprofit entity, with priority given to schools and community centers whose programs help enhance access to technology for traditionally underserved communities. These systems were supplied to the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for use during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games to track official event results, statistics and standings for athletes, coaches, spectators, officials, and the media. Any organization interested in being considered must complete an online application; faxed or written applications will not be accepted. The application will be posted on Gateway's web site from April 2 to July 31, 2002. For additional information, or to fill out a form for notification about Gateway's Olympics PC Donation Program when it becomes available in April, please access the following website: http://www.gateway.com/olympics/donations.shtml. [ Top ] Kids Against Hunger Seeks Volunteers and Donations to Help Feed Afghani Children 3/1: Kids Against Hunger,
a non-profit organization that packages and distributes specially formulated
food packets to starving children worldwide, is seeking monetary donations and
volunteers to assist in packing and shipping 2 million meals to starving Afghani
children to be delivered in mid-April... [ Top ] New T-Shirts Proclaim Upbeat Girl Empowerment Messages 3/1: Campaign For Our
Children, a non-profit organization known nationwide for its bold adolescent
health-related media messages, has announced the availability of t-shirts for
young women... [ Top ] TAKE OUR DAUGHTERS TO WORK DAY: MORE THAN FRINGE BENEFITS 2/23: Take Our Daughters
to Work Day has been hailed as one of the most successful public education
campaigns in history. In order to quantify and measure the effect of the program
the Ms. Foundation commissioned a research study to examine how the day impacts
girls' lives. The study results were both positive and interesting. Not only
does the program boost girls' self-confidence in adolescence, it increases
girls' interest in education and strengthens girls' relationships with adults.
Workplace coordinators also see benefits for their company by attracting young
women to their business or industry. [ Top ] Beware of Risks to Young Hearts during American Heart Month 2/20: With so much focus
on hearts in February, experts at Atlantic Children's Medical Center encourage
people to think about smaller, younger hearts that are at risk. Heart disease is
the leading killer of Americans today, according to the American Heart
Association. And the roots of the problem may begin in childhood... [ Top ] High-School Journalism Program for Gifted Students of Color Accepts Applications Nationwide 2/15: The Asian American
Journalists Association announces 'J Camp', a high school journalism program for
gifted students of color. This five-day training camp will bring together a
multi-cultural /multiethnic group of high school students from across the nation
to sharpen their journalism skills and work together in a unique learning
environment... [ Top ] ClassroomsCare Campaign Gives One Million Books to Needy Children 1/30: Scholastic Book
Clubs, a division of Scholastic, the global children's publishing and media
company, announced that students across the country have reached the goal of
reading one million books as part of its ClassroomsCare "reading is giving"
initiative. As a result of this successful campaign, they will now give one
million new books to children in need... [ Top ] Dairy Industry Under Attack by Physician's Group 1/30: The dairy industry's
newest advertisements to date drew fire from the Physicians Committee for
Responsible Medicine, which filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission
on Tuesday, January 29, 2002, alleging that the advertisements include false
health claims... [ Top ] Most States Falling Short In Using Tobacco Settlement Funds 1/24: According to a
report released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, many states budget
shortfalls are threatening already meager tobacco prevention funding. This is
despite conclusive evidence that programs reduce smoking, save lives and save
money... [ Top ] Togetherness Better than Costly Gifts to Show Loved Ones You Care, Recent Survey Finds 1/18: Togetherness tops
the list of how to show a loved one you care. More than 50 percent of adults say
time together with loved ones is the best way to show you care. Time fared
better than showing affection or buying expensive gifts like jewelry, clothes
and electronics - according to an American Heart Association poll... [ Top ] Smithsonian Institute Partnership Brings Unique Materials to Teachers and Students 1/11: Many educators
believe that access to primary source materials is a key factor in sustaining
students' interest and ultimately improving their performance in social studies.
The Smithsonian Institute has partnered with publisher Scott Foresman to create
new materials for students and teachers across the country... [ Top ]
2001 School Crime Continues to Decrease 11/09: A report issued by
the Bureau of Justice Statistics and National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
finds that despite the serious cases of violence in our nation's schools in past
years, more serious victimizations happen away from school than at school. [ Top ]
09/12: How do you tell
children about the unprecedented tragedy of Septeber 11, 2001? How do you
reassure them while also trying to explain what happened? CNN's Kathy Slobogin
talked to Dr. Jeffrey Mitchell, a certified trauma specialist and head of the
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation. The non-profit group has
trained thousands of disaster response workers... [ Top ] Students, parents split on Web's value 08/22: A majority of teens
say they can find on the Internet very nearly all of what they need for school
projects. American adults, however, have a mixed view of the importance of
Internet skills for children to do schoolwork, an Associated Press poll found... [ Top ] Congressional Email Overload... Are your messages being ignored? 07/09: Email may be a
useful weapon in the online activism arsenal, especially when used to
communicate with supporters and members, but it may not be the best tool for
communicating with elected officials. Find out why and what you can do to make
your opinion heard... [ Top ] Children with eczema may be at high risk for developing allergies to peanuts and peanut oils 06/05: Scientists are
warning that peanuts and peanut oils may cause allergies in children with
eczema. They found that 90% of children with peanut allergies had previously had
eczema... [ Top ] Schools taking breaks from recess
05/15: As schools increase academic
demands and fret over playground fights and unstructured time, the traditional
elementary school recess is losing out. School districts across the nation are
simply keeping students at their desks, and that worries some parents and child
development experts. [ Top ] Education Poll: Public Sees Parental Involvement as No. 1 Problem 03/15: Parents who are not involved in their child's education topped the
list of potential education problems identified in a new poll by the National
Education Association, followed by poor teacher pay and overcrowded classrooms.
But voters are clear that parents alone are not responsible for improving
schools. According to the survey, voters believe the federal government should
put additional funding for education as the single highest priority for the
federal budget, above Social Security and Medicare reform, tax cuts, and
national debt reduction, according to the NEA... [ Top ] Ain't Misbehavin' - Discipline tactics that work!
01/26: 'Fess up: You've had it up to 'here' with nagging and yelling
and you can tell from your kids' sniveling response that many of your reprimands
just aren't working... [ Top ] 2000 Announcing the Connecticut Digital Library The Connecticut Digital Library was authorized by Public Act
00-187 (Section 35) and appropriated $2 million dollars in FY 2000 – 2001. The
State Librarian, Kendall Wiggin, calls it "the most significant new
investment in library service in Connecticut in many years." It will
initially provide immediate and free access by every citizen – from home, from
the office, from their library or school – to a wide selection of commercial
full-text databases... [ Top ] Internet task force:
Online safety for children State agencies and area youth organizations are teaming up to
educate cops, parents and children about Internet safety... [ Top ] Studies showing African-American
students benefit from vouchers questioned Two studies seem to confirm that black students using
vouchers to move into private schools are doing better academically than their
public school counterparts. But skeptics are questioning the methods
researcher used to obtain their results... [ Top ] More
parents are satisfied with public schools According to the newly released 32nd Annual Phi Kappa Delta/Gallup Poll of the Public's Attitudes Toward the Public Schools, parents whose children attend public schools reported a level of satisfaction with their public schools that approaches an all time high. Seven in 10 public school parents gave "A"s and "B"s to the school their oldest child attends. To read the poll in full, visit http://www.pdkintl.org/kappan/kpol0009.htm [ Top ] More women are surfing the Web
than men For the first time, the Internet is more feminine than
masculine. According to a much-publicized demographic report issued last month
by Media Metrix and Jupiter Communications, more women are surfing the Web
than men. How will this gender shift affect the Net?, Read on... [ Top ] Connecticut scores low on 'Technology
Sophistication Index' Connecticut is among the states with the lowest scores in Market Data Retrieval's Technology Sophistication Index. The index gauges a school's "technology sophistication" on several factors that included its type of computer networking, its Internet connection speed, how many high-end and multimedia computers a school had, the location of the computers and the number of computers per student. [ Top ] Which Teens are Having Sex? Teenagers of average intelligence are the least likely to delay having sex, according to a study published in the "Journal of Adolescent Health." Both the brightest adolescents and the least intelligent tend to wait longer for intimate contact, according to the study. Researchers don't yet know why teenagers of average intelligence are the least likely to delay sex. Source: June 2000 issue of "Our Children" magazine, National PTA's magazine. http://www.pta.org/aboutpta/store/oc_magazine.asp [ Top ]
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