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Most individuals appointed as superintendents of school districts have a background in public education. However, some districts have found that sound managerial experience in the business sector can be just as advantageous – and sometimes more so – than those with a strict background in teaching.

On the other hand, superintendents that come straight from the business world may lack the educational knowledge necessary to properly lead a district in the best interests of the students. Which philosophy is correct? According to two major school districts currently involved in this very debate, the answer isn't terribly clear.

Management Experience vs. Education Training

According to a report in , New York is one city that appears to put sound managerial experience over an education background when it comes to choosing a superintendent for the nation's largest school district.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg came into the political arena with no experience in government and is now serving his third term as mayor. His appointments of New York schools chancellors also seem to reflect his commitment to finding individuals with business and managerial experience to lead the district.

This video outlines the qualifications for a school superintendent position.

Bloomberg's recent chancellor appointment, Cathie Black, "seems to be a continuation of Mayor Bloomberg's predisposition toward choosing people that he views as good managers regardless of their expertise in education," Aaron Pallas, a professor at Columbia

School board members are responsible for a variety of responsibilities during their terms of governance. They must set budgets, establish school policies, make long-range plans, and assess data to determine school performance. This governing board further decides how schools will operate and recommends strategies that will increase student achievement.

Due to these obligations, it stands to reason that elected board members should receive some type of training to assist them in conducting complex school business. However, school board member training is not without its share of controversy.

In this video, Cal Heminway, Board Chairman of Granby School District in Connecticut, talks about what makes a good school board member.

The Importance of School Board Training

In Michigan, voters seem united in their desire to see school board members properly trained for their roles. A recent survey published by the demonstrated voter discontent. As many as 30% of the 600 Michigan voters polled gave their current school board members an average grade of "C" in terms of their recent performance. In addition, the survey found the following:

• Two-thirds of the respondents believe that school board training should be mandatory.
• The vast majority support training within one hour of the local school district.
• About half oppose training on a national level, preferring local training.
• Almost two-thirds said they would be more likely to vote for a potential member who has

"We are crew, not passengers." – Expeditionary Learning philosophy

A new wave of learning is sweeping schools across the country, engaging children in meaningful learning activities that claim to prepare them more adeptly for the world of higher education. This trend, known as expeditionary learning, has been implemented in numerous K-12 public schools today, and the results in many of these institutions have been impressive. What is expeditionary learning and how does it benefit students? The information about this unique program is spelled out within this article.

What is Expeditionary Learning?

According to the website for Pathfinder K-8 School in Seattle, expeditionary learning can be defined as "learning by doing, with a particular focus on character growth, teamwork, reflection and literacy."

Instead of sitting in a traditional classroom each day, schedules are broken into projects that engage students, challenge their thinking and teach them critical problem solving skills. Work may be done inside or outside the classroom, with a particular emphasis on Outward Bound expeditions that promote teamwork and challenge students to their physical and mental limits.

The lists the 10 design principles that reflect the values and beliefs of both expeditionary learning and Outward Bound:

• The Primacy of Self Discovery – Learning happens best with challenge, emotion and proper support.
• The Having of Wonderful Ideas – Time is given to foster curiosity, experiment and make observations.
• The Responsibility of Learning – Learning takes place individually and as a group.
• Empathy

Public schools have taught the Advanced Placement curriculum for decades. AP courses offer students the opportunity to accelerate in the subjects in which they are particularly gifted. In addition, students who score well on AP exams can obtain college credits or test out of courses before ever attending a university. However, some schools are taking the advanced placement program one step further, requiring students to take exams that will bolster the school's own standing in some national rankings.

Those Opposed to AP Requirements

The AP examinations offer many benefits to students, but they cost a lot to take. Most of the exams cost between $50 and $100. Some schools pick up the tab, and others charge students directly for the exams.

One of the complaints parents and students alike have in districts that are requiring the exam is that some families cannot afford the expense of the test. This means some students will not benefit from the Advanced Placement classroom because they can't afford the required exam with the course itself.

Others are unhappy about the requirement to take an exam that may or may not offer much benefit to them. For students taking Advanced Placement courses, the time required to prepare for many examinations may be more than the students can handle. Most will pick and choose the exams to take based on their expectations of which exams they predict they will master.

The percentage of students enrolled in advanced placement courses who

One, two, three, four - give your algebra class a hip-hop beat score!

Researchers have been studying the link between music and learning for decades, and recent research suggests that listening to music enhances the brain's ability to absorb new information. According to the , a Stanford University School of Medicine study showed that listening to music can help the brain focus and organize information more efficiently.

This news isn't new for millions of students who enjoy listening to their favorite tunes during study sessions. However, for many schools that are now incorporating music into their curriculum, the study supports their efforts to improve students' learning ability with musical selections.

In this TEDx Talk, Edmund Adjapong discusses Transforming Urban Education Through HipHop Pedagogy.

What is Hip Hop?

Hip-hop has become the genre of choice for many schools looking to add music to their basic curriculum and test preparation. Hip Hop, according to , is a cultural movement that originated in the Bronx in the 1970s and quickly spread throughout the African-American and Latin-American cultures in New York City. More recently, hip hop has become a worldwide craze but has particularly spread in popularity throughout the United States.

Hip-hop incorporates four basic elements: DJing, rapping, break dancing, and graffiti art. The music consists of various components, including rapping, sampling, beatboxing, and juggling various beats on old-fashioned turntables. The musical