And some have now resorted to placing advertisements on school buses.
School districts say its practically free money, and advertisers love the captive audience that school buses provide.
Thats the problem, say opponents: Children are being forced to travel to school on moving media kiosks, and the tactic isnt much different than dressing teachers in sponsor-emblazoned uniforms.
“Parents who are concerned about commercial messages will have no choice,” said Josh Golin, associate director of Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood. “Parents wont be given the option to send their kids on the ad-free bus.”
Washington lawmakers considered the idea of school bus advertising this - - - - >

The Great Recession made things worse.
Its further drained the financial resources of many congregations, seminaries and religious day schools. Some congregations have disappeared and schools have been closed. In areas hit hardest by the recession, worshippers have moved away to find jobs, leaving those who remain to minister to communities struggling with rising home foreclosures, unemployment and uncertainty.
Religion has a long history of drawing hope out of suffering, but theres little good news emerging from the recession. Long after the economy improves, the changes made today will have a profound effect on how people practice their faith, where they turn - - - - >

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is partnering with Viacom Inc.s television networks, education leaders and celebrities to launch an awareness campaign to reduce the number of dropouts. The foundation, started by Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates and his wife, has invested more than $2 billion in educational programs since 2000.
“People should understand how the system is falling short today and how it really contradicts our commitment to equal opportunity,” Gates told The Associated Press. “If we dont change it now, it will hurt the future of the country as a whole.”
Only one-third of American high school students graduate with - - - - >

Entertainment Properties Inc., known mostly for sinking its money into movie theaters and wineries, recently bought 22 locations from charter school operator Imagine Schools for about $170 million. The real estate investment trust acts as landlord, while Imagine operates the schools and is using the investment to expand its chain of 74 locations.
“They really are an effective source of long-term financing that we can rely on and enables us to do what were best at, which is running schools, and do what theyre best at, which is long-term real estate ownership,” said Barry Sharp, chief financial officer for Arlington, Va.-based - - - - >

It is unheard of for layaway rooms to be so packed at back-to-school time and for the packages to include relatively cheap school supplies.
A record number of shoppers, shut off from credit and short on cash, are relying on Kmarts layaway program to pay for all of their kids school needs, said Tom Aiello, a spokesman for Kmarts parent Sears Holdings Corp. Layaway allows shoppers to pay over time, interest- free, and pick up their merchandise when its paid in full.
“Its a sight. In the past, we would see layaway start to pick up around Halloween” as people get a - - - - >

Clad in T-shirts promoting “The Choice,” about 100 students, parents and administrators went door-to-door on a recent Saturday, asking Richmond homeowners to give their neighborhood schools a second look. Joining them was Virginias first lady Anne Holton, a product of city schools.
The $50,000 campaign by a school system still trying to rebound from a long history of racial segregation and white flight is an example of efforts under way in several cities to retain students. School districts are highlighting improvements to halt declining head counts so they can retain their funding, especially in light of drastic state budget cuts.
“People are - - - - >

Detroit Public Schools emergency financial manager Robert Bobb is walking some of the citys toughest neighborhoods to bring back Harvey and other parents who have abandoned the district by the thousands.
Its an imposing sales job, especially with the districts $259 million deficit and his decision to close 29 schools and lay off more than 1,000 teachers before classes start Sept. 8.
“You hear all the negative,” Harvey said this week following a surprise visit from Bobb to her west side home. “My theory is change doesnt come overnight. Im not saying Im willing to put my foot in the door. I - - - - >

The CHART OF THE DAY shows the estimated expense for parents to have a child in elementary, middle or high school has risen in the past two years, mostly because of new fees and small gadgets, according to a study by Huntington National Bank. The bank calculated the expenses based on school supply lists and fees in five states.
Consumers have eased spending on non-necessities as unemployment climbs in the recession, which started in December 2007. Back-to-school spending will drop 13 percent this year, according to the - - - - >

That was the amount she and other parents in the Tacoma district figured every family with kids in Lowell Elementarys kindergarten classes would need to contribute to save the jobs of three teachers aides. While some families gave more and some less, the parents ended up raising $16,000 in a few months, and all three classes got their aides.
“It really frees up the teacher to be able to work in small groups and work individually with students on academics,” said Bouma, whose son, Henry, is in a class of 24.
As budget cuts hit school districts across the nation, moms and - - - - >

The Philadelphia school districts unique program provides free food for all children in schools with a high percentage of low-income students, dispensing with the cumbersome forms parents must fill out elsewhere to qualify their kids for free meals.
Although federal officials recently threatened to kill this paperless model, other cities are looking to replicate it. Food service directors say it eliminates the costly bureaucracy that both deters needy families from applying for subsidized meals and stigmatizes those who do complete the forms.
“There are so many families that dont get access to the free meals that they would probably qualify for,” said - - - - >