Current Issues In Education

At first glance, grade retention may look like old-fashioned common sense: Fail the year? Just do it over!

Some say traditional grading systems don't show what a student really knows. Hear what one school is doing about it.

Boys are falling behind girls in school performance. What's behind the boy crisis, and how can parents and teachers help?

For an increasing number of children, play just isn't taking place, and the consequences for child development may be severe.

"Academic" preschools that promise to prepare kids for the cutthroat world of kindergarten are becoming more and more popular. But are they a good idea?

Here's how you can make sure your child is getting enough physical education.

Learning After 3 P.M.: California students benefit from after-school programs.

Facing fierce competition to get into top colleges, many students are compromising their health and values to get ahead. Experts are even seeing stress levels increase at the elementary school level. Some educators are working to reduce the pressures on students.

Education World explores ADHD in a five-part series.

Bullying, according to noted expert Dan Olweus, poisons the educational environment and affects the learning of every child. Learn what you can do to keep bullying behavior from poisoning your school. Included: Practical tips for changing the behavior.

StarrPoints: Zero-tolerance policies damage more children than the weapons they purport to protect them from.

Do year-round schools enhance student learning, or are they a costly, hectic, and largely ineffective cure for the nation's educational ills? Those involved in year-round schools -- school superintendents, specialists, researchers, teachers, and princi...

Experts offer workable strategies to curb student cheating.

Teachers, parents, and students all say smaller classes are better, but will smaller class sizes really lead to enhanced student performance?

Trying to squeeze in last-minute learning? Get ideas for keeping kids focused.

Some research suggests that extracurricular activities can benefit all students. John H. Holloway, a consultant with the Educational Testing Service, explains those benefits for Education World. Included: An extensive list of online resources for explo...

This Back-to-School Guide for Beginning Teachers offers a virtual survival guide for educators about to begin their first year.

When is a B really an A? When you live in a school district with high academic standards and tough grading policies, according to some Connecticut parents who want their kids to get more A's. Those parents blame the school district's high standards for...

Computers have demoted the second of the three Rs, some educators say. Instead of teaching the loops and swirls of cursive letters, teachers point students to the letter r on the keyboard. Not all educators and handwriting experts agree on whether or w...

A growing number of families are choosing to homeschool their children. Education World examines the pros and cons of this trend.

Add a little structure to outside play with these outdoor games for kids. They're a great way to encourage teamwork and work out all-important motor skills.

The use of personal portfolios for assessment and presentation long has been a component of higher education. In fact, personal portfolios are a graduation requirement at many colleges and universities. Now, electronic portfolios have begun to enter the world of K-12 education as well.

Savvy school leaders put out fires before they become infernos.

Some say too much praise can hurt kids -- plus praise pointers!

Schools are shifting from competitive games to lifelong fitness activities.