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People in America need jobs. Students need modernized school buildings that promote learning. President Obama put the two together in his recent job package, asking Congress to approve billions of dollars for infrastructure projects – including modernizing and repairing schools across the country. However, asking for money and actually getting funding are two very different things in today’s polarized political climate overshadowed by grave concern for the current state of the country’s economy.

How School Modernization Could Help America

According to a report at , school modernization is touted by the current administration as good for education and beneficial to the economy. Vice President Joe Biden’s former chief economist Jared Bernstein asserted that school modernization is a “smart way to get a lot of people who really need jobs back to work, fix a critical part of our institutional infrastructure, save energy costs, provide kids with a better, healthier learning environment, and do so in a way that everyone can see and feel good about each morning when they drop their kids off at school.”

This video from the National Education Association makes the point that Education Support Professional workers say "Safe and healthy schools mean better learning and working conditions for students and school employees".

There is data to support the idea that students learn better in updated facilities. Valerie Strauss in her column, “Answer Sheet,” provides studies that show

Voucher programs have become a hot topic of debate at school districts across the country, but Indiana is one of the first states to truly see firsthand how a voucher program can impact the scope of public and private school. This state is home to the most expansive voucher program in the nation, with more than 250 religious or private schools currently approved for the program. While more than 3,000 students statewide are expected to reap the benefits of the Indiana voucher program this year, not everyone is thrilled with the idea of taking tax dollars out of public schools to fund private education. With two sides to this hot-button issue, we’ll explore the full realm of state voucher programs, including how this particular program is changing the face of public and private education in Indiana.

Details of the Voucher Program

According to a recent report at , the Indiana voucher program passed the state legislature in the spring of this year, and since that time, around 250 private and religious schools have been approved by the state to participate in the program. This means that approved schools can admit students on scholarship, based on the family’s income levels. Scholarship money comes from the tax dollars that would normally be spent on public schooling. The equivalent of the per-pupil tax dollars goes directly to the family to be used to pay tuition and fees at the approved private school of the family’s choice,

With the push by the current administration to graduate more students from community college over the next decade, institutions of higher education are focusing on ways to ensure students who enroll in college actually end up with a degree or professional certificate on the other side. As schools are examining this factor in greater detail, information is emerging that makes many college educators wonder why students who may perform well in high school flounder academically when they enter the ivied halls of higher education. A number of recent studies suggest that for the academic rigors of higher education, even if their performance in high school was above average. This knowledge is leading some schools to revamp freshman programs to ensure more students stick with their academic efforts until they find success and a degree.

This video reports on how 60% of students are not ready for college-level work.

“One Year Out” Explores College Readiness

A recent study conducted by the College Board, titled, “One Year Out,” looked at college readiness, as well as a number of other factors that determine whether those that enter a community college or a university as a freshman will actually stick with their studies until graduation. According to the , the study found that many students entering college for the first time were not prepared for college-level

For many families nationwide, Labor Day marks the end of summer – and the start of a new school year. Heading back to school can inspire many emotions from kids and parents alike, from anxiety over meeting new students and teachers to excitement over purchasing new supplies and clothing. While every family approaches the back-to-school process a bit differently, there is a common thread running through nearly every household in the nation this time of year – a flurry of activity that can sometimes be difficult to manage. The good news is that parents and children can take plenty of positive steps to make the transition back to school much smoother.

Stock Up on Supplies

Back-to-school shopping means much more than stocking up on a few pencils and a ream of notebook paper. Most parents engulf themselves in a task that involves purchasing new clothing, checking items off the school supply list from school, and scouring the sales for the best deals. The following shopping tips will make the entire process much more efficient overall.

School Clothes

Organized Home recommends planning before shopping to make the actual trips to the store as fast, easy, and budget-friendly as possible. Begin by assessing each child's current clothing situation to determine what school clothing needs to be purchased. Get rid of all the clothing that no longer fits or is torn or stained beyond repair. Toss what can be reused, donate the rest, or stage your garage sale to make a