Student Success

A small but growing number of states are requiring school districts to provide recess. Pending legislation in Massachusetts would require schools to provide at least 20 minutes of daily recess in K5. Trends in the U.S. In Florida and Rhode Island, recess laws took effect this year. Four other states already require it, and 11 […]

Here are lists of states that require recess in elementary schools and that require general and physical activity. States that require recess in elementary school Connecticut: 20 minutes of supervised recess daily, preferably outdoors Indiana: Daily physical activity that may include the use of recess Missouri: Minimum of one 20-minute recess period Rhode Island: Minimum […]

Illinois has revamped state education funding to provide extra support to economically challenged K12 districts. Evidence-based funding, which goes into effect in 2018, considers each district’s needs and local funding resources when allocating state aid, with extra emphasis placed on high-poverty districts. Previously, nearly two-thirds of funding for each district—compared to a national average of […]

While the increasing number of concussion-related injuries in the NFL—and the player lawsuits that followed—have captured the country’s attention, less attention has been paid to the rise of similar claims coming from high school student-athletes. The litigation exposes high school districts to an increased risk of class-action lawsuits and significant monetary damages. Schools must determine […]

Schools connected to overseas U.S. military bases often try to restrict class sizes—to about 18 or 20 pupils—so teachers can develop closer relationships with their students. A teacher’s primary obligation is to make sure newcomers integrate into their classes as quickly as possible, says Amy Peaceman, who recently retired after 41 years of teaching in […]

The life of a military family comes with a powerful sense of patriotism and pride, but also definite, daily challenges. Personnel are typically transferred every two to three years, which means their children may attend as many as nine schools during their lives.