Property owners have seen taxes skyrocket over the past 5+ years as funding for schools has risen. Two years ago the State legislature increased State school property taxes from $1.98/$1000 of assessed value to $2.89/1000 in Clark County. Add levies (as we go to press the levy cap has been raised from $1.50 to $2.50); capital bonds and other fees and service costs and many people are nearing their wit's (and financial) end. Today K-12 education consumes more than 50% of the state budget...and for what? Have test scores risen? (No they’ve declined). Have graduation rates improved? (They are flat or down). What measures of success do we see? In this report we share the following with … [Read more...]
Will U.S. public schools follow Chinese schools?
Bullying; physical safety; truancy; inattentive students...we hear these discussed about public schools routinely. Increasing efforts to quell those behaviors include S.E.L. (Social Emotional Learning) and PBIS and other "training" to keep students focused, in school and more engaged. Gamification to make learning like playing games. So China has been trying various techniques to deal with some of the same issues. What are they doing and will US schools move to adopt any of these "tools"? You be the judge. In the remainder of this article we'll share some of the efforts being made in China so you are aware....beware... Chinese schools make pupils wear micro-chipped uniforms to thwart … [Read more...]