Prior to 1998 charter schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia were non-existent. Students who wanted to be educated in ways alternative to public education would need to seek out private schools or homeschooling. The Patrick Henry School of Arts and Sciences (PHSSA), a year round elementary charter school in the City of Richmond, is the first elementary charter school in Virginia. The purpose of this study was to describe and analyze the events and actions that led to the establishment and operation of PHSSA, as a public charter school. The main research question for this study is, what has occurred and had to be overcome in order to enable the first elementary public charter school in the Commonwealth of Virginia to be approved and to continue as a charter, renewed twice for a total existence of 10 years? This research provides recommendations for those seeking to implement and continue the renewal of a charter school where the authorizer is a local school board. Participants interviewed were representatives of the community--parents and community leaders--who were involved in the startup of Patrick Henry at various stages of its existence. A systematic method of document review and structured interviews of key informants was conducted. Analysis revealed the problems and successes of this elementary charter school. Outcomes from the interviews should foster understanding of the creation and continued renewal of charter schools in Virginia. The study may provide counsel for future public charter school endeavors in the Commonwealth. / Doctor of Education / Public charter schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia began with the authorization of public charters in 1998. As written in the Code of Virginia (§ 22.1-212.5): Public charter schools in Virginia are nonsectarian, nonreligious, or non-home-based alternative schools located within a public school division. The Patrick Henry School of Arts and Sciences (PHSSA), a year-round elementary charter school in the city of Richmond, is the first elementary charter school in Virginia. The purpose of this study was to describe and analyze the events and actions that led to the establishment and operation of PHSSA. This study provides recommendations for those seeking to implement and continue the renewal of a charter school. Participants interviewed were representatives of the community--parents and community leaders--who were involved in the startup of PHSSA. Outcomes from the interviews should provide understanding of the creation and continued renewal of charter schools in Virginia. It also may provide guidance for future public charter school endeavors in the Commonwealth. .

Our nation’s youth face health challenges today that are drastically different from the health problems of youth in generations past. The drastic rise in childhood obesity rates prompted the 108th Congress to look for an innovative solution to the problem, mandating that each school district receiving federal funding for Free and Reduced Lunch must create and adopt a local wellness policy. This study examines whether relationships exist between Georgia’s school districts’ wellness policies and specific demographic characteristics of the district. Dependent variables include compliance, phase of implementation, and presence of a school health council. This study conducted univariate analysis using chi square and odds ratio coupled with binary logistic regression. Analysis shows that percent of minority students, as an independent variable, is significantly associated with compliance with the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act.

Background: This study analyzes local wellness policies of 176 Georgia public school systems. The purpose of the study was to analyze potential relationships between demographic characteristics of Georgia school systems and compliance with the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, as well as the strength of wellness policy goals in the areas of nutrition, physical activity, and other school-based activities. Methods: Demographic data from the Georgia Department of Education were used as independent variables. Compliance ratings and the strength of wellness policy goals were derived from an evaluation tool developed by a research team at Georgia State University’s Institute of Public Health as part of a project contracted by the Georgia Department of Education. Analysis was conducted using Pearson’s correlation (two-tailed), crosstabulation, and linear regression. Results: Statistically significant positive associations were found between academic performance and strength of overall wellness policy goals (p < .05), as well as goals in the areas of nutrition education and other school-based activities (p < .01). Economic status of the student population was found to be positively associated with the strength of nutrition education goals (p < .05). No statistically significant associations were identified between demographic characteristics of school systems and physical activity goals. No associations were identified between involving community stakeholders in wellness policy development and having more comprehensive wellness policy goals. Conclusions: This study found statistically significant evidence of districts with stronger academic performance having more comprehensive overall wellness policy goals and stronger goals specifically in the areas of nutrition education and other school-based activities goals. Findings should assist the Georgia Department of Education in allocating its limited resources to help school systems improve wellness in public schools throughout Georgia. Recommendations are made to strengthen federal and state policy regarding school wellness, to conduct more research regarding the influence of community involvement on school wellness, and to provide guidance to local school systems having less resources and lower student academic performance in order to ensure health disparities are not further exacerbated.

abstract: There has been a push to create and implement school wellness policies. Childhood obesity statistics suggest that schools may have an important role to play in promoting wellness. Childhood obesity has become a significant problem in the United States. The percentage of obese children in the United States has more than doubled since 1970, and up to 33% of the children in the United States are currently overweight. Among the 33% of children who are overweight, 25% are obese, and 14% have type 2 diabetes, previously considered to be a condition found only in adults. This mixed-method study with a string qualitative component study examined three aspects of federally mandated local wellness polices. The study investigated the policies themselves, how the policies are understood in the local school setting, with a particular focus on the impact the policies have had on school meals. The bulk of the research data was generated through 8 in-depth interviews. The interviews were conducted with key stakeholders within 2 elementary school districts in Arizona. In addition, the evaluation of 20 local wellness polices was conducted via a rubric scoring system. The primary component found to be lacking in local wellness policies was the evaluation method. Recommendations for school districts include the establishment of a clear method of measurement. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ed.D. Educational Administration and Supervision 2011

When Democrats and Republicans crafted the 2002 No Child Left Behind (NCLB), the bipartisan reauthorization of the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), they did so with the best of intentions: Close our nation’s staggering achievement gap with federal leadership, accountability, flexibility, and choice. But a over a decade later, many argue the law’s flaws have outweighed its successes to detriment of our public education system, schools, teachers, and most importantly, our students. In accordance with ESEA’s traditional reauthorization cycle, NCLB was signed into law in 2002 and expired in 2007. It is now 2013, and our nation’s education policy still has yet to be reauthorized. In examining how this can be accomplished, this paper first demonstrates how our tradition of local school control developed into one of dual jurisdiction. It then examines the executive and legislative battle that produced NCLB in the 107th Congress. Next, this paper analyzes the intended and unintended consequences of NCLB, which include conflicting conservative and liberal mechanisms, perverse incentives, narrowing and homogenizing education, inadequate resources, ignoring community issues, and seeking annual educational profit over qualitative learning. The paper concludes with an outlook on reauthorization–how NCLB should be substantively improved, as well as, the political context in which this reauthorization will occur.

Book Summary: Spanning three volumes, this comprehensive encyclopedia of over six hundred entries covers the full range of civil rights and liberties in America from the antecedents of the Bill of Rights through the most recent controversies over political and social issues, including abortion, free speech, religious liberty, voting rights, and the guarantees of equality. It also addresses the civil rights and liberties issues stemming from America's ongoing war on terrorism. Detailed entries include key concepts, historical events and developments, major trials and appellate court decisions, landmark legislation, legal doctrines, important personalities, and key organizations and agencies. Entries have an objective tone, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions.Designed as an up-to-date reference source for students, scholars, and citizens, the encyclopedia will help broaden and heighten understanding and appreciation for the wide range of issues associated with civil rights and liberties in the United States, and is the most sophisticated treatment available. The volumes of the encyclopedia consist of original entries, arranged alphabetically, on many current hot-button issues as well as in-depth coverage of the rights Americans hold sacred. Written by experts in the field, including attorneys, judges, and legal scholars, the encyclopedia takes a historical-legal approach, providing important information on the background and development of an issue or event. The third volume concludes with over three dozen essential primary documents, including landmark statutes, key court decisions, and influential essays.