Schools & Education 2022_01_07

SCHOOLS & EDUCATION

A B l a n k S l a t e M e d i a S p e c i a l S e c t i o n • J a n u a r y 7, 2 0 2 2

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Explore these college savings strategies Enrolling in a trade school or college is widely considered the next step after a student graduates from high school. College is especially popular, as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 62.7 percent of high school graduates went on to colleges and universities in 2020.

Finding ways to pay for higher education has long been a goal for students and their families. PrepScholar, a college testing preparation resource, calculates that, by 2033, students can expect to pay around $237,000 at in-state public universities and $464,000 at private colleges or universities for four-year degrees. That high cost is why so many families take proactive steps to set aside funds for college soon after their children are born. No matter the situation, taking the steps to plan and save helps to make schooling more affordable.

529 college savings plan A 529 is a specialized savings account for college and university costs. Most plans can be opened by a U.S. citizen or resident alien age 18 and older. The individual opening the account can be a parent,

grandparent, cousin, or even a friend. The student is the beneficiary of the account.

Four-year schools, community colleges and vocational/trade schools accept 529 accounts as payment sources. The only requirement is that the school must participate in the U.S. Department of Education student financial aid programs.

Education savings account, or Education IRA The financial experts at Ramsey Solutions say an ESA works like a Roth IRA but it is designed specifically for education expenses. Individuals can invest up to $2,000 (after tax) per year, per child. The account grows tax-free. The rate of growth varies based on investments in the account.

Ramsey estimates that at an average return rate of 12 percent on a $36,000 investment ($2,000 per year for 18 years) would grow to around $126,000 by the time the child starts college. An ESA also can be used to pay for K-12 private school tuition, school supplies, tutoring, or textbooks. It also can be transferred to a sibling if the money is not needed for a particular student.

UTMA/UGMA plan This plan is different from ESAs and 529s because it is not specifically designed for college savings. The Uniform Transfer/ Gift to Minors Act is in the child’s name but is controlled by a guardian until the child reaches age 18 or 21. This mutual fund account can be used to save for college with reduced taxes, or funds can be used for other expenses, such as a car or housing.

Advanced placement classes AP classes allow high school students to take college-level courses that can be converted into college credits. Each AP class reduces the need to pay for a class in college. This can add up to some significant savings. In addition, performing well in AP classes may make students more attractive to colleges and universities, helping students to earn academic scholarships.

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How to find a tutor for your child Tutors provide an invaluable service to students across the globe. Students at all grade levels utilize tutors, and the results such tutors produce may surprise even the most ardent tutor supporters.

A 2009 study from researchers at the Chabot College Office of Institutional Research found that tutored students had higher pass rates on average than nontutored students in every class examined.

Those classes included anatomy, biology, business, and chemistry. In addition, one study published in the American Journal of Physics found that human tutoring can result in classroom test scores that are 35 percent higher than software-driven tutoring.

Such results have understandably made many parents true believers in the power of tutoring. Parents who want their children to work with tutors but don’t know where to find one can try these strategies. · Contact your child’s school. Many schools offer free tutoring programs, and such programs can provide the one-on-one attention students need to understand their lessons. After-school tutoring programs offered by schools also may provide curriculum-specific tutoring that aligns directly with what students are being taught in the classroom. Schools also may have information about local private tutors and tutoring firms, so parents should not hesitate to con-

tact their children’s school. · Ask around. Fellow parents can be great resources when looking for tutors.

Other parents can share their own experiences working with certain tutors, and may be able to point you in the direction of tutors who specialize in certain areas, such as mathematics or the sciences. · Contact local community organizations. Local community organizations such as the YMCA also may offer free or low-cost tutoring programs to members or even non-members. Parents are urged to consider these programs, as they may be staffed by local college students, including undergraduates and post-graduates. When speaking with local organizations, ask how they choose their tutors and inquire about the educational backgrounds of those tutors. · Consider online tutoring services. Online tutoring services are another option, and one that can be especially valuable for families that live in remote or rural areas where in-person access to tutors may be hard to find. Search the internet for online tutoring services, making sure to read reviews and even request testimonials from past clients before signing up.

Parents have numerous resources at their disposal that can help them find tutors for their children.

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NURSING

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How parents can pitch in at their children’s schools Giving back to one’s community can take many forms. Some may give back by supporting legislature to make communities more inclusive, while others may volunteer with their local fire departments. Parents of school-aged youngsters can typically find many opportunities to give back through their children’s schools.

Parents who volunteer with their children’s schools often get a unique glimpse into their children’s life at school. Such parents may see how their children interact with educators and classmates and gain greater insight into the school community where kids spend so much of their time. Volunteering at school also can benefit kids, who may recognize the importance of education more readily if mom and/or dad are spending their free time on campus.

That recognition can leave to improved performance in the classroom.

Parent-teacher associations can be great resources for parents who want to volunteer with their children’s schools.

Each year, students graduate and move on to new schools or colleges, and that means schools are in fresh need of parent volunteers each school year. Though each school has its own unique needs, the following are some roles parent volunteers may be able to play at their children’s schools. · Tutor · Mentor · IT support: Parents with significant experience in tech or information technology can offer to lend a hand or provide advice or insight in support of a school’s IT staff

· Organizer: Schools host many functions in a typical school year, and officials typically ask parents to pitch in so such events can be successful. For example, parents can help organize school fundraisers, dances and holiday bazaars. · Chaperone on field trips · Assistant coach: Many schools pay stipends to the head coaches of their athletic teams, but parents can serve as unpaid assistants or support staff during the season. For example, parents can volunteer to work as gameday staff, taking tickets at the gate or directing ticket holders where to park. · Club official: Extracurricular clubs also can benefit from parents willing to work as volunteers. Parents can help students who want to start new clubs or serve as moderators or helpers in existing clubs. · Speaker: High schools may host periodic career days throughout the school year to help students on the cusp of applying to college uncover potential career paths. Parents with significant professional experience in a given field can offer to speak to students on career days, sharing information about their careers and industries and answering any questions students may have. · Administrative support: Parents also can pitch to help with behind-thescenes administrative duties like letterwriting, grant proposals and other projects that play a vital role in securing funding for school programs and other services.

Parents who want to give back to their communities can take an active role in their children’s schools.

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EAST ROCKAWAY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Seeking Candidates for the Following Positions: TEACHER AIDES Salary in accordance with the East Rockaway Teacher Aides Association Agreement - Two years’ college preferred SUBSTITUTE TEACHER AIDES Salary: $17.00 per hour Two years’ college preferred SUBSTITUTE CLEANERS Salary: $16.00 per hour District Wide- All Shifts SUBSTITUTE MONITORS Salary: $15.00 per hour District Wide SUBSTITUTE NURSE(S) Salary: $150.00 Daily - District Wide Must have Registered Nurse’s License, CPR and AED Certification SUBSTITUTE CLERICAL Salary: $20.00 per hour - District Wide SUBSTITUTE SECURITY AIDES Salary: $20.00 per hour - District Wide

The warning signs of dyslexia Obstacles are bound to challenge students at some point in their academic careers. Students can sometimes overcome obstacles by recommitting themselves to their studies, while others, including dyslexia, require help from parents and educators.

According to LD Online, an online resource that seeks to help children and adults with up-to-date information about learning disabilities and ADHD, as many as 43.5 million Americans from all economic and ethnic backgrounds have dyslexia. Dyslexia is also prevalent in Canada, where the learning disability resource The Reading Clinic estimates as much as 20 percent of the population has dyslexia.

Learning disabilities can be challenging at any time, but they may be especially so when in-person access to educators and academic resources is limited or unavailable. Such was the case for many students during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, when schools abruptly switched from inperson learning to remote learning in an effort to curb the spread of the potentially deadly virus.

During the pandemic, millions of parents of school-aged children found themselves taking on the role of educators. That can be challenging for any parent, but especially so for parents of children with undiagnosed learning disabilities. Dyslexia is a complex learning disability, but one that may produce noticeable symptoms, which can vary depending on a child’s age.

What is dyslexia?

The Reading Clinic notes that dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin and characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition.

What are some warning signs for dyslexia?

LD Online notes that it’s a myth that people with dyslexia read backwards.

Students may have difficulty remembering letter symbols for sounds or forming memories for words, but they do not read backwards. In addition, LD Online notes that individuals with dyslexia may experience difficulty with: · Learning to speak · Learning letters and their sounds · Organizing written and spoken language · Memorizing number facts · Reading quickly enough to comprehend · Persisting with and comprehending longer reading assignments · Spelling · Learning a foreign language · Correctly doing math operations Parents, especially those homeschooling their children during the COVID-19 outbreak, who notice any of these symptoms should report them to their children’s teachers immediately.

Dyslexia is more common than many people may think. While dyslexia is a lifelong condition, LD Online notes that, with treatment, many people learn to read and write well. More information about dyslexia is available at www. ldonline.org.

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