This Education Policy Brief examines the latest research and statistics regarding childhood obesity. In addition to providing an overview of current trends and effects of childhood obesity, this brief considers the reasons for the increase in obesity rates among children, as well as the latest federal and state initiatives created to combat…

It is important for every student in Ohio to attend school every day. Missing too much school has longterm, negative effects on students, such as lower achievement and graduation rates. There are many reasons students miss school, but districts often can directly impact their students' attendance. By using data to identify and support students who…

When charter schools first arrived on the American educational scene, few observers suspected that within two decades thousands of these schools would be established, serving almost a million and a half children across forty states. The widespread popularity of these schools, and of the charter movement itself, speaks to the unique and chronic…

In his 2004 State of the Union address, President George W. Bush described drug testing as "an effective part" of an "aggressive, community-based strategy to reduce demand for illegal drugs" (as cited in Lineburg, Alexander, & Sughrue, 2006 [emphasis added]). His statement fueled debate about the role of U.S. public schools…

This manual was developed to provide school systems with information useful in identifying and responding to crises in their schools and communities. It provides a framework for school systems to use in establishing procedures and guidelines to react appropriately to crisis situations. It consists of general information to guide school systems in…

An investigation into the integration of child with moderate learning difficulties in secondary schools in four Welsh counties found that two authorities had effectively mainstreamed considerable numbers of children, while others showed lack of clear policy statements, lack of planning, and less than full commitment to integration. (JDD)

The coupling behavior of school systems was examined in this study of how school districts attempt to control and supervise alternative programs. Four alternative high schools for actual and potential dropouts, run by community-based organizations but dependent on local education agencies (LEAs) for student referral and program accreditation, were…

Current statistics reveal a dramatic increase in households where grandparents are raising their grandchildren. Issues facing these families affect learning outcomes for the grandchildren; therefore, there are diverse implications for schools in dealing with grandparent-headed households. Schools can address areas of communication in grandparent…

This paper offers an analysis of urban youth gangs and intervention and prevention strategies for schools, and describes an example of a Cleveland (Ohio) school-wide response. After reviewing the scope of the problem and recent attention to gangs and youth violence, the paper looks at why youth join gangs and lists 12 conditions. Another section…

This article describes the methodological challenges and processes involved in designing and conducting the School Health Policies and Programs Study. Information is provided on questionnaire development, sampling, data collection, and weighting and variance estimation. (SM)

This conference paper points out that the public schools are not providing equal educational opportunities. Although de jure segregation is being eliminated, existing de facto segregation is no less injurious to the young child. Wherever the educational process permits a differentiation which places Negro children at a disadvantage, the public…

The School Health Policies and Programs Study assessed health education, physical education, health services, food service, and policies prohibiting violence, tobacco use, and alcohol and other drug use at state, district, school, and classroom levels. State questionnaires found several common themes across the components of school health…

The School Health Policies and Programs Study includes assessment of school food service at the state, district, and school levels. Questionnaire data indicate that the infrastructure to support school food service programs is well established at all levels, with few questioning the role of food service in child health. (SM)

This article presents statistics on school health education, looking at selected federal support and related research and focusing on the School Health Policies and Programs Study, which used questionnaires to provide data on the status of health education at the state, district, school, and classroom levels. (SM)

The School Health Policies and Programs Study assessed state, district, and school health policies prohibiting tobacco use, alcohol and other drug use (AOD), and violence. Most states required AOD use policies, but few required violence or tobacco use policies. Most districts and schools had written policies prohibiting all such behavior. (SM)