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Do not close any high schools in Chicago – that was the recommendation from a commission appointed by Chicago 51����s Chief Barbara Byrd-Bennett. Although many of the high schools in the city are underutilized at this time, the commission determined that closing any of them could pose a serious danger to students. Byrd-Bennett will now consider the recommendations made by the commission as she ponders what to do about underutilized schools and the district’s massive budget deficit.

The Commission on School Utilization

The Commission on School Utilization was formed by Byrd-Bennett to determine which schools should be consolidated and which should be closed. The district, currently facing a $1 billion budget deficit, has determined that something must be done about under-enrolled schools to close the deficit. Although the commission recently released early recommendations, the final report by the commission will not be out until March. Chicago 51����s plans to release a preliminary list of schools slated for closure prior to that time, according to a report at Chicago Now.

Byrd-Bennett handpicked the members of the commission, including commission chairman Frank Clark. Clark is a retired CEO from ComEd and a mayoral appointee to the McCormick Place Board. Clark told the that the commission will not be providing a list of school closure recommendations, although that is what Byrd-Bennett originally wanted from the commission. Instead, early inklings from the report suggest the commission will be much more focused on schools that

As college entrance examinations are looming, high school students across the country are looking for ways to raise their ACT or SAT scores. While some parents prepare to shell out hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars to help their teens prep for these exams, experts promise students can adequately prepare by spending little or no money on the process. Check out these 10, low-cost tips to help your high school student perform well on his college entrance examinations.

Know the Benchmarks

Before you begin test prep, it helps to know the scores you might need to get into the colleges of your choice. Keep in mind that there are no hard and fast rules at any school regarding ACT or SAT scores, but a general range will help you know if your college app will be met with serious consideration. The cites the national average score for the SAT at 1500. The average score for the ACT is between 20 and 21. While these are national averages, some schools may consider applicants with lower scores, or require higher scores from most of their prospective students. For each school you are considering, research the average standardized exam scores from the prior year's admitted class.

Choose Your Test Wisely

According to , those who perform best on the ACT tend to be strong readers with good memory skills who can process information quickly. High performers on the SAT are typically

The long and lazy summer days may become significantly shorter for some students nationwide if proponents of longer school years get their way. More schools are examining how to add days to the school year by lengthening the current school day or shortening summer vacation. Those in favor of more school time say the change is necessary to avoid many schoolchildren's academic challenges during the long summer months. Opponents argue that reducing summer vacation strips children of the needed respite from the academic grind and the opportunity for more in-depth learning opportunities. While both sides may have a legitimate point to make, the debate may be won by those with the most educational and political clout.

This video from NPR discusses the pros and cons of ditching the long summer break.

Education Secretary Leads the Charge

Education Secretary Arne Duncan is one of the biggest proponents for more school time. Duncan told the Washington Times it should be no surprise that American students are falling behind their counterparts across the globe who attend school in countries not bound by a 180-day school year. Duncan noted in the New York Times that the original 180-day school year was based on the agrarian economy, where children were expected to help in the fields during the summer months. That model is no longer accurate for today’s educational environment or the future workforce.

“If we’re serious

When lists come out of the rich and famous, it is often assumed that these individuals were raised in an elite environment filled with private schooling and tutors to guide them on their path to success. However, many of the CEOs at Fortune 500 companies today came from much more humble beginnings – through the public school systems in their neighborhoods. If there was ever a doubt about how public school can launch students on the road to prosperity, these 15 individuals are living examples to dispel those doubts.

1. Michael T. Duke – Wal-Mart Stores

Michael Duke is currently serving as the fourth Chief Executive Officer for Wal-Mart. Duke joined the company in 1995 and quickly developed a broad base of experience as he led the Logistics, Distribution and Administration Divisions, and more recently, the U.S. Operations. From 2005 to 2009, Duke served as vice-chairman of the company, taking the reins as CEO in February, 2009.

Duke has a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. After college, he held positions with a number of retail companies before heading to Wal-Mart, including Federated Department Stores, May Department Stores and Venture Stores. Before his college career, Michael Duke was a student at Fayette County High School, located in Fayetteville, Georgia, according to .

2. Rex W. Tillerson – Exxon Mobil

Rex W. Tillerson is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for . According to the company website,