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Graduation rates are on the rise at high schools across the county, putting the nation on track to achieve a 90-percent graduation rate by the year 2020. However, not all students are faring as well as those numbers make it sound, and plenty of factors may still impact the country’s ability to meet that completion goal. Check out the potential reasons why some states are seeking exponential increases to their own graduation rates, and why some students are not reaping the benefits of those improvements.

New Report Shows Encouraging Numbers

According to , the positive news comes from a recent report titled, “Building a Grad Nation,” co-authored by a leading expert on dropout rates from Johns Hopkins University, Robert Balfanz. Balfanz and his team noted that graduation rates are improving in an eclectic listing of states that include Texas, Tennessee, and Alaska. The report did not include numbers from Oklahoma or Kentucky since those states used a different formula from the rest to calculate their graduation rates.

The report lists the top performers in terms of graduation rates as Iowa, Vermont, and Wisconsin, which led the country with rates at nearly 90 percent. A handful of states still showed plenty of work ahead in their completion efforts. New Mexico and Nevada fell at the bottom of the pack, with graduation rates that barely reached 60 percent. Nationwide, graduation rates have increased from 71.7 percent in

The governance of public schools is a rather complex issue that incorporates various government entities at the federal, state, and local levels. In theory, these multiple levels should create a tapestry that addresses the needs of students at the most local level without sacrificing education quality across the country. While the model doesn’t always work as planned, the checks and balances system provides a mostly workable national education system that crosses state and district lines. Learn more about the basics of public school governance in the United States today.

Federal Oversight

The federal government is responsible for four essential functions in public education today, according to the website. Those four functions include:

• Policies related to Education Funding – These policies can promote specific education reform by offering additional funding to states and districts that choose to abide by federal standards. explains that the current administration is attempting to do just that, by providing competitive grants through the Race to the Top program. States that align with Race to the Top standards and recommendations stand to receive additional funding from Uncle Sam.

• Collection of Data and Research – This information is used to identify the strengths and weaknesses in the current state of public education. By identifying weaknesses in public education, states can draft new policies to close the gaps and improve education quality overall.
• Identification of Problems in Education at the National Level – By focusing on learning

Brevard County is making some tough decisions for the upcoming school year, including the closures of some Florida schools. According to the Brevard School Board, the decisions are purely financial, as the district struggles to overcome a $30 million shortfall. However, proposed closures have failed to make much of a dent in that massive shortfall, and the controversy generated by the closures may be far-reaching regarding who will keep their seats on the board in upcoming elections. Despite the protests of students, parents, and teachers, it appears that Brevard County will follow through with school closure plans.

Three Schools to Close in Brevard

reports that the Brevard County School Board has officially voted to close three schools in the county next year. The three schools on the list include South Lake Elementary, Gardendale Elementary, and Clearlake Middle School. Another school that had been on the proposed chopping block, Sea Park Elementary, was allowed to remain open by a narrow 3-2 vote in its favor. South Lake Elementary and Gardendale both lost the votes to remain open by 3 to 2. Board members voted 4-1 to close Clearlake Middle School.

Some parents with students at the school took the closure news very hard – with some reacting emotionally at the school board meeting and others vowing to fight for their neighborhood schools.

“I will make it my passion for the next two years to make sure everybody who voted to these

In the aftermath of numerous shootings at schools and elsewhere that plagued the nation during 2012, school districts around the country are reevaluating the effectiveness of their safety plans. In Alabama, one of the largest school districts in the country, Mobile County, is joining with the rest of the districts in the state to establish active shooter policies and other changes to school safety. The proposed changes are accompanied by plenty of debate, as districts are forced to look at controversial policies involving gun ownership and armed security in public schools.

This video offers an active shooter emergency plan from the Federal Government.

Active Shooter Policies First on Drawing Board

reports that the first policies to be given serious consideration by the state board of education will be those involving active shooter scenarios. The board recently voted unanimously to approve a resolution to implement a new active shooter policy in all public schools throughout the state. This new policy includes annual active shooter drills, with training for school staff to be overseen by the Alabama Department of Homeland Security.

“We want to make it more difficult for the bad guys to get access to our schools,” Mary Scott Hunter, a member of the board of education, told AL.com.

According to Dothan First, the active shooter drill will differ from the standard “lockdown” exercises previously done in schools. The new