Do Public Schools Need to Teach More Math and Science?

If you are looking for a way to keep your kids in the learning game this summer, there are many fun options to choose from. Summer camps, whether scheduled for a day or a week, are an excellent opportunity for students to explore subjects and embark on an adventure during the summer season. Camps may be held during the day, or consist of consecutive overnights to give participants a true feel for the camping experience. With subjects ranging from science to performing arts, you are sure to find a camp your child will love.

Benefits of Summer Camp

According to the Cigna website, there are many benefits children may enjoy from attending a summer camp, including:

• Unique experience helps children broaden social skills
• Embarking on new activities builds self-esteem
• Opportunity to form long-lasting friendships
• Learn important skills like leadership and communication
• Teaches children resiliency and responsibility
• Additional physical activity provides health benefits

This video explains the benefits of summer camp.

With many advantages to be gained from attending a camp this summer, the next question for parents becomes how to choose the best camp for their child’s needs. Fortunately, there are a number of resources available to help parents make the best choice for their kids.

Choosing a Summer Camp

The National Camp Association recommends beginning the selection process by asking the following questions:

• What do you want your child to take away from the

The annual ranking of the top-performing high schools in the country was recently published by U.S. News and World Report. Two criteria were used to create this list; standardized test scores in math and reading and performance on Advanced Placement exams. However, Gallup is taking the process a step further to look at other factors that might contribute to top performance across the nation. The polling company focused on one of the largest school districts in the country, Montgomery County Schools, for their analysis.

The Gallup Student Poll

Gallup brings decades of experience in data collection and analysis to the table in establishing their new Student Poll. According to the website, this poll is designed to utilize student factors in measuring academic performance and success in schools. The poll is focused on three key indicators of student success:

• Engagement – This indicator gauges a student’s enthusiasm and participation in his school. Gallup has found that students that are more engaged in their school environment tend to perform better academically as well.
• Hope – A student’s hope for his future motivates him to show up for class, earn credits toward graduation and maintain a solid grade point average. The scores for this indicator actually provide more insight to a student’s success than grade point average or scores on college examinations.
• Wellbeing – A student’s well-being is a window into what that student thinks of himself and the world around him. Student well-being provides information on how

A new type of technology is coming to two of the largest school districts in the country. Both Chicago and Boston Public Schools recently announced they will adopt the BoomWriter Digital Education Platform to transform public school students of all ages into published authors. BoomWriter allows a classroom to collaborate on a story that will eventually go to print with the students’ names listed as book authors.

Adding BoomWriter to the Classroom

According to a press release in the Wall Street Journal, Chicago Public Schools will introduce the BoomWriter Technology Heroes Program to public school classrooms next year, thanks to funding from Chicago-based CareerBuilder. The district will utilize the technology in grades 3-12 to bring a whole new level of writing instruction and engagement to the classroom.

“The BoomWriter program motivates students,” Brian Donahue, vice president of sales strategy for CareerBuilder, told the Wall Street Journal. “We expect a great deal of excitement as they see their words in print. BoomWriter helps young people develop their writing skills for a rapidly changing, technology driven world. This program is a great way to invest in our community and future workforce.”

Boston Public Schools will also introduce BoomWriter to students in the upcoming school year. Melissa Dodd, the school district's chief information officer, stated in the press release that the addition of BoomWriter coordinates with the district’s goals to promote college and career readiness among its students. The technology will also align Boston School

Texas high school students may see fewer standardized tests in the future, thanks to new legislation that recently passed the state House and Senate. Known as House Bill 5, the bill reduces the number of standardized tests required for high school graduation from 15 to just five. While state lawmakers are patting themselves on the back for getting this legislation to the desk of Texas Governor Rick Perry, not everyone is happy about the changes coming to the Texas education system.

Texas at Forefront of Education Changes

Serving as the first in line for education reform is nothing new to Texas, according to a report at the Huffington Post. This state was one of the first to embrace No Child Left Behind and tougher standardized testing for all public school students. Now, all eyes are on the state once again, as lawmakers work to revamp graduation standards that would tone down the stringent standardized testing and accountability the state has supported for many years.

House Bill 5 encompasses education reform that drops the number of tests students must take for high school graduation. The five proposed tests that would be left in the standards would cover English reading and writing, Algebra I, U.S. history, and biology. In addition, the new bill would allow students to pursue a base high school diploma that does not require the completion of Algebra II or other high-level math and science courses.

ABC Local reports that the new