The College Board has come up with an option StudyBuddy has recommended all along. It lets 9th graders use standardized test results to make plans for later, when it counts.

The family has the advantage of knowing, in the 9th grade year, what's going well and what's not. That gives ample time to focus resources on strengthening any weak areas. Read more

It seems like the past year has offered us one sad story after another about budget cuts to Physical Education, with childhood obesity on the rise. Both Fox News and the New York Times have reported on high schools eliminating sports teams. Read more

This teacher couldn't answer a question, so he had to change the school. As reported in Sheila Moody's article last month in the San Francisco Chronicle, in1982, Tom Furrer was a new teacher at Petaluma's Casa Grande High School. During a class discussion about endangered species, the kids wanted to know what they could do. He couldn't answer the question, and it bothered him all weekend. Read more

By the end of high school kids are sick of school. National Public Radio reports that more and more are taking a gap year before starting college. It may be a good idea -- see what you think.

Apparently this is an idea which has been popular in Europe for some time. Some college officials think it's fine. Read more

Here are some resources you won't want to miss:

RiSE (Resources in Special Education) Library freely lends materials to California residents. Borrower pays only for return postage costs. To view holdings, see www.php.com/services/libraries. Read more