The Drama of Teacher Ratings: From a Suicide to Lawsuits

School districts across the country have fallen victim to the current economic slowdown, which has resulted in significant budget cuts and tough decisions for many schools this year. Unfortunately, the budget cuts have come at a time when dropout rates are rising. Is there a connection? We will take a closer look at the issue to answer the question.

The Dropout Dilemma in California

No state has felt the brunt of school district budget cuts more acutely than California. With many districts forced to lay off counselors, end intervention services, and reduce or eliminate arts and other extracurricular activities, there are fewer resources to keep kids interested in school than there once was. Recently released data seems to support this idea; according to a report at San Jose Mercury News, the dropout rate for California schools during the 2008-09 school year went up nearly three percent from the previous year.

During the 2008-09 academic year, the dropout rate was 21.7%. The previous year, that rate was just 18.9%. African Americans saw the most dropouts at 36.9%, and Hispanics followed with 26.9%. Both of these demographics saw a three-percent increase in dropouts in just one year. At the same time, California saw an increase in graduation rates, with a nearly two-percent increase in graduations across the board and a five-percent jump in Hispanic graduations.

Still, the dropout rate is far from acceptable, considering that a high school diploma is the first step in breaking the

While many school districts nationwide are tightening their belts with smaller budgets, others are considering a broader range of charter schools to address the specific needs of families in their areas. One type of charter school that has gained plenty of attention in recent years is Hebrew immersion charter schools, which teach the Hebrew language and culture without bringing religion into the picture. While many school districts have denied such charter applications, others have signed on for Hebrew immersion schools, which are filling quickly in some areas.

Try, Try Again!

In Bergen County, New Jersey, one Hebrew-immersion charter school is hoping the fourth time is the charm as it once again submits its charter application to the state for approval. The school, Shalom Academy, may get its wish in a year when the current state government hopes to expand public school choices. According to a report at NJ.com, this year might be Shalom's best shot at approval.

The Shalom Academy would serve populations in Englewood and Teaneck, which already host a charter school. It is estimated that the two current schools would have to reduce their budgets by nearly $3 million to create the money needed to set up and run Shalom Academy.

This video documents how, with their use of taxpayer dollars for Hebrew education, the nation's Hebrew-language charter schools are becoming an increasingly popular choice for Jewish parents.

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Ask any elementary-aged child what their favorite school subject is and many will either say recess or P.E. Children delight in the opportunity to run, play and compete with other students after sitting in math and language arts for most of their day. Unfortunately, that time in the school gym or on the playground isn't always the safest from a parent's perspective. We have a rundown on a number of lawsuits pending in school districts across the country, due to what has been perceived as unsafe conditions.

In this video, an attorney explains your options.

Tucson School Sued over Fight

A simple game of tag on a school playground during a physical education class landed one Tucson student in the hospital, according to a report at AZ Central. The student, a 10-year-old Cody Barber, claims that he was attacked by another student during a game of tag at his elementary school in the Tucson Unified School District. The attacker allegedly knocked Cody to the ground and then kicked him once. Barber's spleen was severely lacerated, which required surgery and six days at a nearby medical center to repair.

Barber's mother has accused the school district of negligence in the injury of her son because she said the alleged attacker had a known history of behavioral issues and had been placed "on restriction" by the school. This

While most children can work well within the public school system, kids with special needs require additional help to succeed academically. Unfortunately, not all school districts are equipped to handle students with a wide range of needs properly, and these kids often fall through the cracks without getting the specialized help they desperately need. Fortunately, parents of these kids have legal options when the school system fails.

Failure to Identify Needs

In Wisconsin, a class-action suit is underway to examine how Milwaukee Public Schools answers the call to students with special needs, according to a report in the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel. The lead plaintiff in this suit, Jamie Stokes, is a 16-year-old who reads at a second-grade level and writes at a third-grade level. The young girl has struggled in school since the age of five, but the district would not agree to test her until Stokes failed first grade for the third time. At that point, the district determined that Stokes suffered from developmental delays and required additional support.

Stokes's mother, Kina King, believes that if Stokes had received intervention services earlier, she might be on a more solid academic footing today. King told the Journal Sentinel, "If they gave her the help, she would have been better, not coloring books her sister in kindergarten is doing." Now, the MPS is facing the question of compensation for families with students who were not placed in special education in a timely manner.

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