(Photo credit: The TMezz Creative Group) Back in October of 2016, I asked: Do Single Sex Schools Hurt Or Help Students? I shared recent research on the subject which, like the majority of educational research, came down to… we’re not sure. In this interview, Janelle Bradshaw, Superintendent of Public Prep Academies, explains what she believes… Continue reading Can Single Sex Schools Shrink the Achievement Gap?
Last month I wrote about allowing my 14 year-old to make his own decision regarding where he’d go to high school. After letting it get down to the wire, he finally decided that he’ll be attending the same Specialized High School his older brother graduated from in 2017. But he isn’t particularly enthused about it.… Continue reading Why I Gave My Son Permission To Drop Out Of High School
A colleague of mine and I were talking a few weeks ago and he mentioned something to me to which I’d previously not given much thought. He, a Black male educator, stated that Black children need more exposure to Black teachers as early in their academic careers as possible in order to give them a… Continue reading Having A Black Teacher Gives Black Students A Better Shot At Success
High school juniors are now in full swing of their college search. Yet even in earlier grades college is on the radar for parents and students. With ever increasing competition, as evidenced by the continually decreasing acceptance rates at colleges, more and more families are beginning the college journey in sophomore year. The extra time… Continue reading Is Your Child a High School Freshman or Sophomore? It’s Not Too Early To Think About College!
During a recent trip to my hometown, I reconnected with some old schoolmates. As we were recounting our high school days, someone mentioned our class valedictorian, which evolved into a discussion on class rank, and none of us could recall where we stood in the pecking order. It was not something that I remember reviewing… Continue reading Is Class Ranking a Thing of The Past? A Long Island Mom Considers Her Daughter’s Experience
In addition to taking the “ridiculous” Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) which I so cruelly forced him to study for, my 8th grade son also auditioned for the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art & Performing Arts. (Yes, that’s really what it’s called and that’s really how it’s punctuated, although most… Continue reading Do NYC Arts High Schools Set Extremely High Standards… In Everything But Academics?
It was not until I had a recent conversation with my daughter’s guidance counselor about another matter that I was aware that she is on track to graduate with an Advanced Regents Diploma. This was news to me, as it was the first time I had heard about the different diploma options available. Traditionally, students… Continue reading What’s the Value of an “Advanced Regents Diploma”? Parents Weigh In.
The School-To-Prison-Pipeline Is Real, Whether Your White Privilege Allows You To Believe It Or Not.
There is a diabolical, direct, orchestrated attack at work against poor, inner-city children of color. They are not being prepped for college- and career-readiness. Instead, Black and Brown children, especially those who reside in certain zip codes, are being prepared to supply free labor to the prison-industrial complex. I wrote these words as the introduction… Continue reading The School-To-Prison-Pipeline Is Real, Whether Your White Privilege Allows You To Believe It Or Not.
On a rainy Wednesday evening, my husband and I sat in our local library listening to a college planning “Guru” explain the ins and outs of the college application and financial aid process. The room was packed with Long Island parents eager to figure out the formula to finance and get the most out of… Continue reading This Is What The College Entrance “Guru” Can’t Teach Us: Managing High Stress for High Schoolers
The start of my daughter’s junior year — and diving head first into the college prep process — is officially here. As I was going through a list of things to start tackling, results from a recent National Association for College Admission Counseling report caught my eye: the most important factor that colleges consider when… Continue reading What’s Wrong with Grade Inflation? Ask This Long Island Mom.
