Spitting Rhymes for Flashy Grades: The Link Between Hip Hop Curriculum and Improved Learning

Charter schools have traditionally been known for producing high test scores and academically prepared students despite facing challenges in districts that standard public schools have been unable to overcome. However, the establishment of a charter school does not guarantee improved performance all of the time. Even when plenty of money is invested, and renowned academic experts are called in, the schools may fall short occasionally.

This video explains why charter schools can succeed.

This article reports on two struggling charter schools despite an infrastructure of support.

Trouble Brewing in New Jersey Charter School

Newark's Lady Liberty Academy was a troubled school that many in public education in New Jersey hoped to revive. Situated in a low-income area of the state, those involved with the charter school adopted a new commitment a year ago to show just what the correct type of education could do for at-risk kids.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker wooed in public school superstar Glen Pinder, a high-profile principal from New York's Harlem Children's Zone. Pinder was tasked with turning over a new leaf at Lady Liberty, raising test scores and the morale of staff and students simultaneously.

Unfortunately, even the best-laid plan ran amuck at times, and Lady Liberty was not immune to its share of conflict, according to recent reports at newjerseynewsroom.com. With Pinder came an entirely new administrative team, straight from his home field of New York.

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 welfare of

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