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It is a story that is all too often in the news: A child is subjected to torturous cyberbullying by his or her peers via social media. Threatening messages sent on Facebook, humiliating comments about their appearance on Twitter, and other such nonsense drives the student to lash out, possibly hurting themselves, their peers, or both.

Schools no doubt serve a protective function and are charged with ensuring students have access to a free, appropriate education in an environment that is safe, secure, and nurturing. To help achieve that end, some states are taking strong measures to bolster the authority and power of school districts with regard to investigating instances of bullying, even if such negative behaviors do not occur on school property or within the bounds of the school day.

The Illinois Law

In an attempt to curb cyberbullying behaviors, the Illinois General Assembly passed a law, enacted January 1st of this year, that allows public school districts to demand access to students’ personal social media accounts if the student is suspected of violating school rules.

A letter sent home to parents in Triad Community Schools in Illinois, obtained by Motherboard, :

“School authorities may require a student or his or her parent/guardian to provide a password or other related account information in order to gain access to his/her account profile on a social networking website if school authorities have reasonable cause to believe

Just three months after the first measles outbreak from Disneyland, researchers have confirmed that the low rates of vaccination are the culprit for measles spreading from California throughout the country, as just published in the .

"Disneyland is an international attraction and sometimes people are coming from places where measles vaccination rates are low or they don't get the recommended two doses, and that, combined with the fact that there are a lot of pockets of non-vaccination in California and people coming from all over the U.S. created the perfect storm for a big outbreak," lead author Maimuna Majumder of Boston Children's Hospital and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology told .

In late December 2014, the first signs that a measles outbreak was about to occur began to present themselves. People came into emergency rooms and doctor’s offices with high fevers, runny noses, coughing, and red, watery eyes. In addition to the ones originating in Disneyland, there were other unrelated outbreaks in Nevada, Illinois, and Washington. California has by far the most cases, numbering 142 in early March. Still, measles reports exist in 17 states and the District of Columbia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This video explains how the measles vaccine works.

What makes this measles outbreak particularly disturbing – aside from the fact that the disease was declared eliminated in 2000 –

How can educators and schools keep up with technology advancing and changing faster than ever? The answer: refurbished ed tech. The use of refurbished computers in public schools can vary widely depending on the specific school district, budget constraints, and local policies.

Refurbished computers are often considered a cost-effective way for schools to provide technology to students. They can be more affordable than purchasing brand-new computers, especially for cash-strapped school districts. Many schools and educational organizations may choose to refurbish older computers to extend their lifespan and make them available to students.

The prevalence of refurbished computers in public schools may also depend on the region and the level of funding available for technology initiatives. Schools may have extensive programs to refurbish and distribute computers to students in some areas. In contrast, in others, the use of refurbished computers may be less common due to budget limitations.

To get more specific information about the use of refurbished computers in public schools in your area, I recommend contacting your local school district or educational authorities. They can provide you with up-to-date information on their technology initiatives and how refurbished computers are utilized.

The Emergence of Refurbished Ed Tech

Teachers and administrators are turning to refurbished educational technology for better learning experiences on a reduced budget. Refurbished machines save time and money and give instructors a wider range of teaching options for students. We paneled some of the top minds in education to learn about the impact refurbished tech is

As far back as the time of the ancient Greeks, philosophers like Plato recognized the inherent value of studying the arts. Theatre, music, dance, and the visual arts were seen as integral to Greek society and are still an integral component of education in our country today.

But not that long ago, amid nationwide budget cuts and an increasing emphasis on instruction and testing in math, science, and language arts, many school districts were forced to reduce arts programming greatly, and in some cases, eliminate parts of their arts curriculum altogether. The arts suffered because school officials, students, parents, and the public in general perceived the arts to be nothing more than an extracurricular activity, despite the vast evidence to the contrary. Fortunately, however, this trend has reversed somewhat, and school districts are once again developing thriving fine and performing arts programs.

The trend towards expanding arts education is certainly a positive one, as the benefits that students reap from participation in the arts are many. In fact, research shows that the arts promote positive development in the academic, social, and emotional realms. So important are the arts to a comprehensive educational program, that Katy Independent School District in Texas , “The arts are what make us most human, most complete as people.”

Signs of Support

The arts are as a central component of the public school curriculum rather than as an add-on that students elect to take