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Amidst schools struggling under tight budgets and fewer resources, a new report by the NAACP provides startling information about where state money is allocated. While schools are forced to find more ways to pinch their pennies, the cost of incarceration around the country is rising. The most disturbing fact surrounding this reality is where the money is going: to cities and neighborhoods where the quality of education is at an all-time low. It turns out that the more we spend on incarcerating individuals, the less we have to spend on public education. By the same token, the fewer that graduate from high school, the more dropouts that end up incarcerated. This vicious circle doesn't seem to have an end, but several laws and policymakers hope to change that reality with the release of this report.

Misplaced Priorities

The NAACP's report is titled Misplaced Priorities: A New Report from NAACP. This organization tracked a slow but steady shift away from public education spending and into the criminal justice system. While funding for higher education between 1987 and 2007 grew by just 21 percent, corrections funding grew by 127 percent!

The researchers who conducted this survey found a distinct link between over-incarceration and the destabilization of communities, according to the . It also found that this connection usually has the most significant impact on vulnerable and minority populations. Six cities were studied for the report, and each showed similarly troubling results.

Surprising Statistics

KIPP schools, part of the Knowledge is Power Program, were lauded in the film, "Waiting for Superman," as a model for other public schools to follow. The higher graduation rates, even in some of the poorer areas of the country, seem to point to the benefits of longer school days and a few weeks of summer school to help kids catch up on their studies. However, recent reports about KIPP school results are casting some doubt on the results these schools have boasted.

Demographic Questions

A recent study conducted by Western Michigan University and Columbia University's Teachers College in New York suggest that the stellar graduation rates seen in KIPP schools may be due more to attrition than to teaching methodology. According to a report at Bloomberg, KIPP schools may even "cherry pick" their student population, with lessdisabled students or children with limited English skills than other schools in their area. In addition, the new study found that the per-student funding may also be higher in KIPP schools.

Gary Miron, the lead author of the study, said that while KIPP schools do have above-average academic performance with a predominantly poor student body, the students that attend these schools may not be as indicative of the demographics of the district as once thought. Miron told Bloomberg, "There's a perception that KIPP is a model for turning around troubled schools. That's a myth."

Attrition Problems

One of the

Tuberculosis is often thought of as a disease that primarily strikes poverty-laden areas and third-world countries. However, recent cases of tuberculosis in public schools in the United States have raised new concerns about the illness right here at home. While the risk of getting tuberculosis in this country is still relatively rare, it is not completely out of the question. This article will explore the new cases of tuberculosis that have been reported at schools around the country, as well as a brief overview of the illness and some of the symptoms to watch.

What is Tuberculosis?

According to the , tuberculosis, also known as TB, is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria tubercle bacillus. These bacteria can survive in the body for years in a dormant state, which explains why some people can test positive for the infection, but not present with any symptoms of the disease. While tuberculosis ran rampant during the past two centuries, incidences of the disease are much lower today in most industrialized nations. However, in other parts of the world, tuberculosis is still a big problem, and health experts estimate that around one-third of the world's population is infected.

How is Tuberculosis Spread?

Tuberculosis is spread through the air, when a person who has an active form of the illness coughs, sneezes or talks, but it takes significant exposure over a period of time to actually "catch" the disease. The Health Protection Agency cites studies that

School cafeteria food has never been a particularly gourmet experience, but parents can at least rest assured the food their children are eating at school is relatively fresh and safe, right? Maybe not. �鶹������ý reports about two different school districts suggest that some systems are not as vigilant about food expiration dates as they should be. We'll take a closer look at these expired food allegations and find out what the districts in question are now doing to ensure a safe fare is served to their student body daily.

This video reports on expired food being served in Douglas County schools.

Outdated Food Raising a Ruckus in Boston

Boston schools are currently investigating allegations that the cafeterias may be offering students food that has gone long past its expiration date. According to a report at Boston.com, Councilor at Large John Connolly began his investigation after receiving reports about expired food in some schools around the Boston area. Connolly checked the kitchens of four different schools to see if the reports had any substantial basis. As a result of his personal research, he showed up at a recent City Council meeting with nine photos of food in school cafeterias that had been reportedly frozen for up to two years. This timeframe goes well beyond USDA's freezer storage guidelines and raised serious concerns with educators and parents alike.

After the City Council meeting,

Tenure has long rewarded experienced teachers and ensured their benefits, pay, and job security. However, many education experts today question whether tenure is the best way to keep the best teachers on the job, particularly in light of recent budget cuts that have led some states to resort to teacher layoffs to minimize costs.

The argument is that a teacher who has been on the job for two years may be able to make a greater impact on students than a teacher who has worked in schools for 22 years. By keeping teachers strictly according to longevity, school districts may lose some of their best and brightest faculty, which is not the best choice for students.

Teachers argue that tenure is necessary to allow teachers the freedom to exercise teaching methods that benefit students without as much concern over test results. Which side is right? We will explore arguments for and against teacher tenure and some potential changes in the air.

Layoffs Coming in New York: Who Will be the First to Go?

Like other states, New York faces some tough decisions when balancing the state budget. Mayor Michael L. Bloomberg has warned that layoffs are coming, and many of those who get pink slips will be public teachers in the heart of New York City. According to a recent report at the , the city's mayor predicts that more than 6,000 teachers will have to be laid off on his watch. Currently,