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Washington D.C. high schools have one of the lowest graduation rates in the country, standing currently at just 43 percent, according to the . Many efforts have been made to raise that number, but not all have received as much dialogue and debate as a recent proposal made by a DC council member. DC Council Chairman Kwame Brown (D) has proposed a new requirement for high school seniors in the city � that they show concrete evidence of college readiness before donning a graduation cap as they exit the hallowed halls of high school.

Taking Tests, Completing Applications

The Washington Post reports that Brown plans to introduce a bill to the city council that will require high school seniors to show college readiness before they graduate from high school. Under the new bill, students must take the SAT or ACT college entrance examination while still in high school. They will also need to apply to at least one college or trade school before graduation � even if the student has no intention of continuing his education after high school.

This video takes a look at a college admissions committee's deliberations.

The point behind the bill is to encourage students to complete high school by showing them what their opportunities might be after graduation. According to some education experts, taking college entrance exams and showing students and their parents

Parents can play a significant role in the academic success of their children. Unfortunately, many parents don’t realize the importance of involvement in a child’s school career and are not sure how to get involved constructively. Too much or too little parental involvement sometimes becomes detrimental to the child � a difficult obstacle for many to overcome. The good news is that you can take relatively easy steps to show your child you are interested in his or her school work and offer the necessary help and support along the way.

The Parent-Child Relationship

A successful school experience begins at home, with the relationship between the parent and child. This process involves developing good habits at home that your child will easily adapt to during the school year. It also incorporates nurturing a comfortable, trusting relationship with your child that will make him more willing to come to you when problems and challenges in the school environment do occur. Some of the ways to encourage your child’s success in school include:

This TED Talk discusses 5 Parenting Tips for Raising Resilient, Self-Reliant Kids.

Good Habits

Good home habits will limit distractions and put schoolwork at the forefront throughout the academic year. First, instill a love of reading in your child, by keeping plenty of interesting books at home and reading together on a regular basis. Let your child see you sit down with

High school students' graduation rates and academic success are a primary concern in many school districts nationwide. This is especially true in light of the current administration has recent focus on higher education to remain competitive in the global marketplace. However, the concerns and needs don’t always match the actual data from high schools today � when accurate data can be collected. Naviance Succeed was created to help schools along the way and promote college and career readiness for the high school students who need it most. Is Naviance Succeed working? We’ll look at the innovative program and some schools adopting it.

The Science behind Naviance Succeed

Although most schools have assessment and curriculum systems today, most programs are designed with the educator in mind. Naviance Succeed is a student-centered approach to secondary education that provides sufficient support and resources to ensure students succeed in the public school system. According to the , the program is designed with integrated tools that consider the following factors:

• Success Planning—Naviance Succeed allows customizing college and career readiness programs at the school and district levels. Programs can target specific age groups or other demographics as needed.
• Career Planning—In addition to ensuring students are career-ready, Naviance Succeed offers tools to help students find the perfect career by introducing a wide range of choices.
• Course Planning—A large portion of preparing for a career or college is the right schedule

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

A new debate in New Jersey is bringing the homework controversy to light once again. The Galloway Township school district is discussing whether students should be given homework-free weekends so that children can have more time with their families and for extracurricular activities and sports. The plan is still in the discussion phase in this district, and it will need to go before the school board for a vote before it becomes official. In the meantime, the issue has resurfaced around the country as educators discuss once again how much homework is too much and whether it is actually counterproductive to the learning process.

This video explains how schools in California, New York, and Maryland are taking a progressive shift to completely eliminate homework for all students.

Why Galloway is Talking

The Galloway Township is considering recommendations from district officials and school board members to limit the amount of homework students receive. The recommendations have come through research, as well as parent-teacher surveys. According to the Huffington Post, officials making the recommendations have determined that less homework will allow additional time for students to focus on extracurricular activities and spend more quality time with their families. Many of the parents and school officials in the district have also voiced their frustration overstressed students who can’t seem to find enough hours in the day to complete assignments � especially when some of the homework looks like simple “busy work� on the surface.

“We really believe