at-risk

As Chicago prepares to close 54 schools in an attempt to rescue an academically and financially failing educational system, one of its greatest challenges will be safely maneuvering thousands of students to and from class through the patchwork of rival gang territories that cover large parts of the nation's third-largest city.

Boston and three other Massachusetts cities, in an attempt to stave off a state takeover of underperforming schools, are turning to nonprofit partners to jump-start flagging overhaul efforts.

As school districts across the country consider placing more police officers in schools, youth advocates and judges are raising alarm about what they have seen in the schools where officers are already stationed: a surge in criminal charges against children for misbehavior that many believe is better handled in the principal’s office.

The most recent education news provides alarming indications that the "pipeline" from early childhood neglect to young adult incarceration is disappearing. I don't suggest that the problem is going away. Quite to the contrary.

The Beckley-Raleigh (W.Va.) County Chamber of Commerce visited kindergarteners at Beckley Elementary and saw first-hand how they are learning to read using technology from MimioSprout. Such technology is meant to better engage students and ultimately improve the county’s assessment score, attendance rates, and graduation rates, as well as prepare children to compete globally in their chosen fields.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced that Arkansas will receive $5.3 million to continue efforts to turn around its persistently lowest achieving schools through the Department's School Improvement Grant (SIG) program.

Portland Public Schools continues to discipline African American, American Indian and Latino students at higher rates than their white and Asian peers, according to data presented to the school board on Monday.

Shawnee State University (Ohio) Outreach Services is helping middle school students in Portsmouth by offering tech-driven programs to 10 participating schools. The programs provide a safe place for homework centers, intensive mentoring in basic skills, drug and violence prevention counseling, and helps middle school students prepare for college preparatory courses in high school.

An in-depth state report on Camden's schools "in crisis" laid out several recommendations in August, including hiring a superintendent who could transform the district. But just as the Camden Board of Education had narrowed its search to three candidates last week, the process came to a halt when Gov. Christie announced a full state takeover of Camden schools.

Nearly one in five high school age boys in the United States and 11 percent of school-age children over all have received a medical diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to new data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.