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Teen pregnancy is not a new issue, but schools and parents still struggle with the challenges surrounding this situation. While statistics show that teen mothers who graduate from high school now have a better shot at supporting themselves and their children, keeping them in school until graduation is often easier said than done. With some school districts across the country facing alarming statistics on the teen pregnancy front, the problem does seem to be becoming more prevalent in some areas of the nation. Combine rising pregnancy rates with budget cuts that are forcing some schools for pregnant teens to shut their doors, and the problems facing pregnant teens seem to be getting more prominent while the options are getting smaller. We will look at how some schools deal with their pregnant students today and the legal ramifications of this issue.

What the Law Says

Many pregnant teens may find attending school daily more challenging than they are willing to manage. Consider the morning sickness that makes is difficult for some girls to get to school in the morning, regular doctor visits that result in frequent absenteeism, and the fear of social stigmas, and you can see why some are hesitant to continue their education path in their current condition. However, in a legal guide titled "" states, "The [North Carolina] state constitution guarantees a right to education and promises equal opportunities for all students in public schools," and this

Technology has become a mainstay in most of our society today, but it remains conspicuously absent in many primary and secondary classrooms across the country. To reach our tech-savvy students most effectively, we need to switch from our traditional methods of teaching and embrace technology, integrating it into our classroom and beyond. Some innovative educators are working to achieve this end by introducing technology tools that enhance their teaching and student learning. By combining personal classroom teaching with online instruction, teachers are using innovative methods to reach students who crave technology in learning. Through the innovative instruction of blended learning, some schools are working to expand course selection for students while cutting costs. We will explore the new and growing field of blended learning to ascertain how it works and discover the far-reaching benefits this classroom style might offer for students.

What is Blended Learning?

According to the Detroit Free Press, blended, hybrid, or flipped learning combines classroom interaction between teacher and students with online content and delivery systems for a robust and diverse teaching curriculum. Students conduct some of their class time with an instructor, while the rest is performed on a laptop from home. This mix of classroom and Internet instruction varies from program to program, but both elements must exist for it to be considered a true “blended learning” environment. While blended learning on the surface may look like a less personalized approach to the learning process, this system actually allows teachers

States across the country are putting anti-bullying laws in place, many in response to tragic circumstances that resulted from excessive bullying within their schools. While some already have laws on the books that require schools to comply, others are continuing to fight the battle to transform anti-bullying from school policy to state law. Are laws against bullying essential, and will they effectively protect the victims? We'll take a look at some of the states grappling with this challenge to find out.

This video describes anti-bullying laws in general.

Laws in Place in Massachusetts

Last May, the governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick, signed a piece of anti-bullying legislation into law. required all public schools to file anti-bullying plans with the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education by the end of last year, according to a report in the Holbrook Sun . The schools' plans needed to include the following:

• Clear descriptions of what bullying looks like
• Statements prohibiting bullying in schools
• Procedures for school staff to report incidents of bullying
• Guidelines to promptly respond to reports of bullying
• Guidelines to ensure the safety of victims
• Procedures to notify parents and guardians of the victim or perpetrator
• Guidelines to report incidents of bullying to law enforcement officials
• Provisions for anonymous reports
• Professional development to build awareness and skills for dealing with bullying
• Disciplinary actions for perpetrators of bullying

The plan should also have

School districts across the country have fallen victim to the current economic slowdown, which has resulted in significant budget cuts and tough decisions for many schools this year. Unfortunately, the budget cuts have come at a time when dropout rates are rising. Is there a connection? We will take a closer look at the issue to answer the question.

The Dropout Dilemma in California

No state has felt the brunt of school district budget cuts more acutely than California. With many districts forced to lay off counselors, end intervention services, and reduce or eliminate arts and other extracurricular activities, there are fewer resources to keep kids interested in school than there once was. Recently released data seems to support this idea; according to a report at San Jose Mercury News, the dropout rate for California schools during the 2008-09 school year went up nearly three percent from the previous year.

During the 2008-09 academic year, the dropout rate was 21.7%. The previous year, that rate was just 18.9%. African Americans saw the most dropouts at 36.9%, and Hispanics followed with 26.9%. Both of these demographics saw a three-percent increase in dropouts in just one year. At the same time, California saw an increase in graduation rates, with a nearly two-percent increase in graduations across the board and a five-percent jump in Hispanic graduations.

Still, the dropout rate is far from acceptable, considering that a high school diploma is the first step in breaking the

Students are often given rewards by parents when they bring home a sound report card. High school students who excel in academics, sports or other activities are often given monetary incentives to attend particular colleges through scholarships. Why not pay students in primary and secondary schools for making the grade as well?

Studies have recently been conducted to determine whether monetary rewards by the school district would motivate at-risk students to achieve better in school. While the results of these studies have been mixed, the debate over the idea is unmistakable. Although some believe that any method of enticing kids to perform well in school is fair game, others see paying cash for grades as an unnecessary way to encourage students to do what they should already be achieving. Who's right? Let's take a look at both sides of the debate to see.

The Four-City Study

Harvard economist Roland Frye recently conducted a test to find out if offering students monetary rewards for performing well in school could bring up scores on standardized tests. Frye's research results were published in last spring. The study looked at schools in four major cities across the United States: Chicago, Dallas, Washington, and New York.

In New York, fourth through seventh-grade students were paid for their grades on tests. In Chicago, ninth-grade kids were paid for the grades on their report cards. In Washington, middle schoolers earned money based on five different metrics, including