Education has been an essential ingredient in the success of our Republic over the past 225 years. Education is the process by which society deliberately transmits its accumulated knowledge, values, and skills from one generation to another through institutions. Education not only enriches individuals but also society as a whole.
The U.S. Department of Education estimates that slightly more than one-quarter of fulltime undergraduate students live on campus. According to The College Board, in 2007-2008 the average in-state tuition costs were $6,185 and $23,712 per year for four-year public and private universities, respectively. Room and board charges averaged $7,404 for public and $8,595 for private universities. These are real costs that should be looked at carefully when preparing to set aside funds for college..
Public education refers to schooling mandated for or offered to all children by the government, whether national, regional, or local, provided by an institution of civil government, and paid for, in whole or in part, by taxes. The question is are children reveiving an effective education?
Effective preschool programs capitalize on a time when children's brains are rapidly developing, laying a foundation of social skills, knowledge and self confidence that paves the way for success in kindergarten and beyond. However many states lack the funding to maintain quality accessible programs
Factors such as race,gender, and location all play a significant role in determining the drop out rates in the US. By analyzing and better understanding these factors we can come up with ways to try and balance them out.
No Child Left Behind - the latest federal legislation that enacts the theories of standards-based education reform, which is based on the belief that setting high standards and establishing measurable goals can improve individual outcomes in education. The Act requires states to develop assessments in basic skills to be given to all students in certain grades, if those states are to receive federal funding for schools.
Head Start Program - a program of the United States Department of Health and Human Services that provides comprehensive education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and their families.
Hope Credit - a nonrefundable education tax credit of up to $1,800 (an increase from 2007) for each eligible student. Students in a qualified Midwestern disaster area may receive up to $3,600[1]. An eligible student must meet all of the following requirements to deduct the Hope Credit:
- be enrolled in one of the first two years of post secondary education
- be enrolled in a program that leads to a degree, certificate, or other recognized educational credential
- be taking at least half of the normal full time work load for his/her course of study for at least one academic period beginning during the calendar year
- not have a felony conviction for possessing or distributing a controlled substance
Pell Grants - a type of post-secondary, educational federal grant program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. It is named after U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell[1] and originally known as the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant program. Grants, which do not require repayment, are awarded based on a "financial need" formula determined by the U.S. Congress using criteria submitted through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
