Charter School Case Studies: Failures Despite Generous Funding and Stanford Backing

Waiting for Superman is the latest documentary to be released into theatres. It depicts the current state of public education and offers recommendations from experts on how to improve a failing school system. This film precedes recent comments by President Obama on the importance of strengthening the quality of education in this country if we are to remain competitive in a global market.

Here is a trailer for Waiting for Superman.

It also comes when severe budget cuts, thanks to the recent economic slowdown, have strapped already cash-pinched schools even further, forcing them to cut additional programs and staff when the public school system is on the brink of disaster.

Waiting for Superman is the brainchild of David Guggenheim, the same documentary filmmaker who brought us "An Inconvenient Truth," the documentary that rocketed former Vice President Al Gore to Nobel Peace Prize status. Sheila Curran Bernard, associate director for documentary film studies at the University of Albany/SUNY, told USA Today, "What gives some of these films their power is not just the content, but also the craft. Imagine how dull 'An Inconvenient Truth' might have been if it were not shaped well."

Telling a Story

The same can be said of Waiting for Superman, a film that follows five families through the public school experience, according to a synopsis on the official movie website. It illustrates how the educational

Vending machines have become a mainstay in many public schools today, but nutrition experts fear that the calorie-laden treats lurking inside could be contributing to our nation's obesity epidemic. Some schools have taken action against such temptations by eliminating vending machines, while others are replacing the fare with nutritional options that boast less fat and fewer calories.

Are vending machines in schools a pleasant convenience or a nutritional threat? We will explore this issue to discover the full impact they have on the overall health of our children.

Junk Food Studies

A recent study in the Los Angeles Times showed that school vending machine purchases added about 253 calories to the diets of the 22% of students who ate them daily. Researchers from the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Food & Nutrition Database Research Inc. of Okemos, Michigan, conducted the study. The data was collected from 2,309 students nationwide in grades 1-12, and the findings were published in the September issue of the Journal of School Health.

The study also found that the most popular vending machine selections included soda pop, candy, chips, crackers, cookies, cakes, and ice cream. Healthier selections, including low-fat milk, fruit juice, and fruit, were also purchased.

In addition to the added calories, children who regularly snacked from vending machines added ten more grams of sugar to their diet daily. The same kids consumed less fiber, iron, and B vitamins overall.

The Problem with Obesity

It is

Each year, the U.S. Department of Education recognizes hundreds of public and private schools across the country for their commitment to educational excellence and their ability to overcome outstanding odds to properly educate their students. These schools receive the National Blue Ribbon of Distinction, an award reserved for schools that boast students who meet and maintain high educational goals. The Blue Ribbon Award celebrates the idea that all students, regardless of background, ability, or location, deserve an excellent education. The current winners are listed on the U.S. Department of Education website.

What is a National Blue Ribbon of Distinction?

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private K-12 schools that are either academically superior in their state or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement. Source: National Blue Ribbon website,

Schools at all levels – elementary, middle, and high schools – are eligible for the award. Each school that is given the honor of a Blue Ribbon Award shares several key characteristics: they have administrators and teachers who are dedicated to high standards of learning for all students, they engage in data collection and analysis to determine the efficacy of instruction and assessment, they have students who demonstrate academic excellence, and they undertake professional development to stay at the forefront of best practices.

The award has been given out since 1982, evaluating student achievement with measurable characteristics that help identify not only the high achievers but also those schools

When school gets back in session, parents go into a flurry of activity, transforming lethargic summer vacationers into study fiends that make the grade. Most parents know the basics of good study habits because these ideas have been drilled into them since they were sitting behind a desk in a classroom. Carve out a quiet place to study. Study at the same time every day. And so it goes.

However, recent research suggests that much of what we have been taught about developing good study habits may be flawed at best. In fact, some of those great tips might be downright inaccurate!

It appears that recent research published in the New York Times and from other learning experts may turn everything we know about effective studying topsy-turvy by introducing a whole new approach to making the grade.

Assumption #1: Find a Quiet Place to Study

Most students know they need to find a quiet place to study after school, whether it is a corner of the library or the desk in their bedroom. However, recent studies suggest that switching locations for your study session may help you retain your information more effectively.

According to a blog by Christine Carter on the Psychology Today website, "cognitive scientists believe that studying something in multiple environments increases the neural connections in our brains associated with what we are trying to learn." In plain language, more connections may mean more effective learning.

This concept was illustrated in