Assessment

How to Prepare for Spring Standardized Tests Without Increasing Anxiety

Each spring, students across the country sit for standardized exams that influence grade promotion, placement decisions, and in some cases, admissions outcomes. While assessment can provide valuable academic benchmarks, it can also create significant stress for students and families.

Understanding How to Prepare for Spring Standardized Tests Without Increasing Anxiety is essential for maintaining both academic performance and emotional well-being. In 2026, with expanded digital testing platforms and adaptive assessments in many states, preparation requires not only content review but also thoughtful attention to mental health.

This guide outlines research-informed strategies that schools and families can use to foster confidence, build competence, and reduce test-related pressure.

Why Spring Testing Triggers Anxiety

Test anxiety is more than simple nervousness. It can affect concentration, working memory, and even physical health. According to the American Psychological Association, chronic stress can interfere with learning and memory formation, particularly in adolescents. Families can learn more about stress and academic performance through the APA’s resources at https://www.apa.org.

Several factors contribute to spring testing stress:

• High stakes messaging from adults

• Fear of disappointing parents or teachers

• Comparisons with peers

• Time pressure during exams

• Cumulative fatigue late in the school year

In 2026, additional concerns include screen fatigue and digital

How to Appeal School Assignment or Zoning Decisions Before the New School Year

Each spring and summer, families across the country receive school placement letters that determine where their children will attend school in the fall. For many, the assignment aligns with expectations. For others, it raises immediate concerns about academic fit, safety, transportation, or special services. Knowing how to appeal school assignment decisions can make a meaningful difference, especially when deadlines are tight and the new school year is approaching.

In 2026, school districts continue to refine enrollment algorithms, boundary maps, and choice policies in response to population shifts, housing changes, and post-pandemic enrollment trends. As a result, more families are seeking to appeal school assignment decisions than ever before. This guide explains how the process works, what has changed in 2026, and how parents can position their appeal school assignment request for the best possible outcome.

Understanding School Assignment and Zoning Decisions

Public school placement is typically based on a student’s residential address, grade level, and district enrollment policies. Some districts rely strictly on neighborhood zoning, while others incorporate magnet programs, controlled choice systems, or lottery-based enrollment.

Families may choose to appeal school assignment decisions for several reasons, including:

• A mismatch between the assigned school and a child’s academic or social needs

• Concerns about school safety, overcrowding, or long commute times

• Changes in family

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Homework (Updated for 2025)

Homework remains a central feature of the U.S. public education system, shaping how students learn, how families engage, and how educators structure learning beyond classroom hours. For parents, students, and educators alike, the debate over homework’s value is more relevant in 2025 than ever, influenced by emerging research, mental health concerns, equity issues, and evolving educational practices.

In this article, we revisit the benefits and drawbacks of homework with the latest evidence, policy trends, and expert insights from 2025, while preserving the original structure and style of this comprehensive review.

What Is Homework?

Homework refers to tasks assigned by teachers that students complete outside regular class time. These tasks vary widely by grade level, subject, and instructional philosophy, ranging from traditional worksheets to project-based assignments, reflective work, or digital tasks.

The Benefits of Homework

Reinforces Classroom Learning

One of homework’s most cited benefits is its ability to reinforce concepts taught in the classroom. When homework tasks are well-designed and purposeful, they help students revisit material, practice skills, and deepen understanding. Researchers emphasize that assignments aligned with instructional goals contribute to higher student achievement when students complete them with engagement and support. Reading Rockets

Builds Study Skills and Academic Habits

Homework encourages the development of time management, organization, self-discipline, and independent learning—skills that matter throughout a student’s academic life and beyond. Educators point out that

Measuring Student Success in Public Schools: Beyond Test Scores

As public schools navigate shifting educational landscapes in 2025, it is imperative to reassess how we measure student success. Traditional reliance on standardized test scores provides only a narrow lens on student achievement. For parents, students, and educators alike, recognizing broader indicators of success in public schools offers a more complete and equitable view of school performance and student growth.

Why We Must Move Beyond Test Scores

Standardized tests historically served as the dominant metric for student and school performance. However, research shows several limitations:

• Test scores often fail to capture growth, engagement, and other non-academic dimensions of success.

• They correlate strongly with external factors such as socioeconomic status and family background rather than purely reflecting school quality.

• Recent commentary suggests test-based assessments may even derail student engagement and learning if overemphasized. hechingerreport.org

Thus, measuring student success in public schools demands a more holistic, multi-dimensional approach. The goal is not to eliminate test scores entirely but to integrate them into a broader framework of indicators.

Key Dimensions of Student Success in Public Schools

Below is a summary table of dimensions that public schools should consider when measuring student success:

2011 Classroom Size Update — 2025 Edition: Are Classes Still Growing Larger?

When PublicSchoolReview published its 2011 look at classroom size, the question loomed: were classes quietly swelling in size, eroding personalized instruction and straining teacher capacity? Over a decade later, the question remains urgent — but the answer is more nuanced. In 2025, classroom size, policy, and pedagogy all intersect in ways that differ from 2011. This article revisits that structure, updating each section with the latest data, stakeholder voices, and implications for families, educators, and school leaders.

1. National Averages: Mixed Signals, Methodological Challenges

In 2011, many observers pointed to steadily rising student-to-teacher ratios and concerns about “mega-classes.” Today, two factors complicate straightforward comparison: (a) federal reporting has become less complete, and (b) the pandemic disrupted trends.

On the data front, the U.S. Department of Education in 2025 has missed its usual June 1 release of the Condition of Education, delaying or reducing the number of published tables significantly. Brookings This gap makes it harder to track year-over-year changes in average class size.

The most recent reliable estimate comes from the 2020–21 National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS), which found that in public schools, self-contained classes averaged about 18.8 students across K–12. National Center for Education Statistics For departmentalized secondary instruction, averages hover in the low 20s, depending on subject and state. That aligns broadly with prior reports: EBSCO’s “Class Size: Research Starters” cites