YAKIMA, Wash. - It's National Summer Learning Day, calling attention to creative ways to prevent brain drain during the summer.

The phrase "use it or lose it" applies to kids' reading and math skills, which researchers say erode measurably when they're not in school. A new survey of more than 1,000 parents found six out of 10 aren't convinced of that, and half said their kids spend more than twice as much time online or watching television as they do with books.

Sarah Pitcock, chief executive of the National Summer Learning Association, said being online may involve reading - but it just isn't the same.

"You're jumping around a lot, from page to page, article to article, with a simple tap of the finger," she said. "Books are really great for giving some of that sort of longevity and continuity in reading that enables students to really focus."

Longer-form reading is better to build comprehension, she said. In the survey, from the group "Reading Is Fundamental," 83 percent of parents said that when their children read, they still prefer books to computer tablets or e-readers.

In Yakima, this year's summer learning focus is "Outdoor Adventure," from nature hikes to campfire cooking and camping trips. Kids use math in recipes and to calculate distances on maps, and research the plants and animals they encounter. They've also figured out how technology can play a role, said Melanie Willis, coordinator for 21st Century Learning programs at the Northwest Community Action Center.

"We have them taking pictures or recording what they're doing, making videos, editing their work," she said, "so you're taking it outdoors, then you bring it back into the classroom, and they really enjoy having that technology in their hand."

Pitcock said the best summer programs allow kids to pick something they're interested in and pursue knowledge about it, reinforcing skills such as reading and math along the way. She said even those weeks spent at home aren't wasted time for parents who encourage children to read.

"Just reading a book is not nearly as powerful as reading a book and having somebody to talk about it with," she said. "So, parents can play a really critical role in reading comprehension that pays dividends, in terms of reading skill growth."

Many of this year's National Summer Learning Day events highlight the need for support and programs for middle-school and high-school kids.

The "Reading Is Fundamental" survey is online at scribd.com.


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Ohio's charter schools have been a topic of debate for more than two decades, with strong opinions on both sides.

Charter schools operate independently of traditional public school districts, often promising more flexibility and innovation. However, concerns about funding persist.

Steve Dyer, former chair of the Ohio House Finance Committee and member of the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School Funding, highlighted a new report exploring the significance of charter schools in Ohio which pointed out nearly half of all charters in the state have closed.

"Ohio's charter school experiment, which is now about 25 years old, has been an utter failure," Dyer asserted. "Because the state has so heavily invested in charter schools, the average charter school student gets more than double the amount of state funding that a kid in a local public school gets."

Dyer's concerns focus on the disparity in funding between charter and traditional public schools, with charter students receiving significant state support despite some schools underperforming.

According to the Ohio Department of Education, charter schools have higher closure rates, with nearly 50% of them closing by their 10th year. Critics argue the financial investment in a less stable educational system could take away from local public schools, which rely on a combination of state and local funding.

Others contended charter schools offer parents additional choices in educating their children.

William Phillis, executive director of the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School Funding, stressed the quality of the options is critical.

"There's no qualifications established by the state of Ohio," Phillis pointed out. "Many operators have no clue as to what education is all about, have no clue in some cases how to operate a business. They just see it as a financial opportunity."

Ohioans remain divided on whether charter schools deliver on their promises. On one side, advocates believe in the value of offering educational options to parents. On the other, opponents question the sustainability and financial strain on the broader public education system.


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Following a Georgia high school shooting in early September, there's been a surge in school threats across the country.

In South Dakota, safety experts are teaching people to report threats - and teaching schools how to field them.

In mid-September, a threatening social media post caused the Meade School District to move into "secure" status.

After it was proven to be noncredible, County Sheriff Pat West pointed out that social media shares "spread like wildfire," and make investigations much more difficult.

Brett Garland is director of the South Dakota School Safety Program, within the Office of Homeland Security. He advised people to - "report, don't repost."

"We would prefer that schools, parents, students, community members, immediately get in touch with their law enforcement agency if they receive information regarding a threat," said Garland. "Definitely we would prefer they not share those threats in any way."

An anonymous tip line for concerns in South Dakota, called "Safe2Say," is available online or by phone 24/7.

Threatening a school, school transit or other place of assembly is a Class 4 felony in South Dakota.

The School Safety Center offers behavioral threat assessment training, teaching school staff and educators to recognize potential flags for violent behavior.

Garland said more than 200 schools have already participated.

"This training that will help schools," said Garland, "hopefully interrupt somebody on that pathway to violence, before it gets to any sort of active attack."

He said school staff learn to develop a "multidisciplinary behavioral threat assessment team," to identify and evaluate threats before deciding on the right intervention.

But he added that there's no specific profile for someone who may be making threats.



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Custodians are often the unseen workers who ensure school buildings operate but in Washington state, understaffing can make their work difficult.

Custodians run a gamut of tasks in schools from cleaning to maintenance.

Amanda Shull, head custodian at Kentlake High School in Kent and a member of the American Federation of Teachers Kent Classified, said when there is not enough staff, they have to pick up more tasks during the day.

"I have to say that all the time: we are understaffed," Shull emphasized. "Somebody called out today and we weren't sent any help. So, it greatly affects us because receiving that extra task determines the rest of our day."

A report from the League of Education Voters found Washington state lawmakers are struggling to properly fund the state's 295 school districts. While the state has increased spending on staff, the costs for other items like food, repairs and natural gas have gone up at an even faster rate since the start of the pandemic.

Shull noted her staff often works out of sight of the rest of the people at the school.

"People see me but you never see the real ones that come after school is out, after the events are over, the quiet ones that clean up and make everything presentable for the next day so classes can happen," Shull explained.

Shull stressed the lack of proper funding affects custodians in other ways, such as with equipment shortages. She added she always tells her team when a teacher or student offers appreciation for their work.