I live in a small, rural area and we attend church in a small town in rural Northern Michigan. If you’ve been following this blog, you probably know by now that I’m a youth leader in our church. And since I’m pretty close to a lot of the teens that attend, I know a lot about the issues they are facing. And just because we live in a small rural area, doesn’t mean that our teens are exempt from dealing with some pretty heavy issues; issues that are a lot deeper than when I was a teenager.

Today’s teens are faced with issues like their friends becoming pregnant, friends dying of overdoses, friends being abused sexually, physically and emotionally, cutting, low self esteem and so on. And it’s not just our teen’s friends facing these issues, more and more teens are facing these issues themselves.

As a parent of a teen, you’re probably wondering what you can do to protect and help your teen when they are facing some of these issues. The first thing to do is to educate your teen.  Sit down with your teen and have a heart to heart with them and let them know your stance on these issues. For instance, how do you feel about sex before marriage? What is your stance on drinking and partying? It will help your teen make wise decisions if they know how you feel about these issues in advance, which will protect them and help them to not make the wrong decision.

However, if your teen does make a mistake, such as getting pregnant or underage drinking, the best thing you can do is help and support them. It doesn’t mean you agree with or condone what they did, it simply means you love and care for them and will help them the best way that you can. That means emotionally and probably financially. However, that does not mean enabling them to continue down a road of drunkeness, unprotected sex, or whatever the issue may be. As parents, it’s our responsibility to guide and direct our children the best we can. We need to be proactive in their lives and often this may require us stepping in, even when they think they don’t want us to. But in the long run they will appreciate it and come to understand why you did what you had to to protect them and help them.

Switching schools midyear? More parents going virtual to ease transition

(ARA) – Every year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, roughly 2 million American families with children move – and their children switch schools. While many families move over the summer, so their kids can start new schools in the fall, others make the school switch midyear, often because of parent job changes or family economic challenges.

In addition, as more school options are becoming available to parents, a growing number of families who aren’t moving their homes are nonetheless changing their children’s schools midyear. Parents who do so are often seeking to give their child a “fresh start” for a variety of reasons: a student who’s bored, or one who’s not getting the individualized attention he needs. Student health or social issues can also be factors.

Educators say many families switching their kids’ school midyear are turning to virtual schools like Connections Academy. The reason is two-fold. First, more families than ever have embraced virtual education in general – roughly 2 million American K-12 students now get some or all of their education virtually, according to research firm Ambient Insight. And second, the very format of virtual schools eases the student’s adjustment period – and physical transitions for both student and family.

At these schools, learning takes place at home, with a parent or “learning coach” on site, with instruction directed by certified teachers, with whom student and parents communicate frequently by phone and e-mail. Connections Academy enrollment counselors – who oversee enrollments across a national network of 15 schools — report that their midyear student enrollments have increased 200 percent over the past four years.

School counselors say that with a little advance planning, a smooth transition to a virtual public school can be easy, and the student can soon achieve both academic and emotional success in his new school.

Here are the Connections Academy counselors’ tips for parents to ensure a seamless transition for their child to a virtual school in 2010.

1. Insist on quality: Not all virtual schools are created equal. Many states have virtual public schools; check www.ConnectionsAcademy.com to see if there’s one in your state. Like all public schools, these schools are tuition-free to families. In states where virtual public schools are not available, there are many fee-based virtual private school options. Do your homework to be sure you’re picking a high-quality virtual school. High-quality virtual schools employ professional and certified teachers. Make sure the school offers an accredited program with a wide range of courses, and a proven curriculum developed by professional educators. Talk to parents with students currently enrolled in the school.

2. Plan ahead: Think about the best time to make the school switch. For high school (and some middle school) students, it’s ideal to finish out the quarter or semester, and then start the new period in the new school. The student gets a fresh start in his new courses, and will have completed coursework from his semester in his previous school. Parents should find out when finals and/or the next upcoming grading period ends in their current school, and when the new one starts, and use this as the target start date for the new school. Of course, sometimes life throws you a curve ball – unexpected job changes or other sudden family matters seldom come with advance warning. In that case, parents should reach out to the virtual school’s guidance and enrollment officials as early as they can, and work with them to make the school switch as smooth as possible.

3. Get your paperwork in order: It can take a while to complete the enrollment process at a virtual school, so parents should start sooner rather than later gathering together all the necessary paperwork they’ll need to enroll their child in the new virtual school – transcripts, birth certificates, immunization records, and the like. Check, of course, with enrollment officials at the new school to get a list of required documents, and what, if any, admission deadlines might apply.

4. Transfer credits: Many schools don’t mail home fall semester or 2nd quarter report cards until well into the spring semester, making it tricky for some parents to show proof of course completion, and to get all the student’s course credits transferred to the new school. Parents facing this situation should check with their new school’s enrollment counselors to find out what other alternative paperwork they can supply, and then request it from the previous school.

5. Maintain an open dialogue: The parents’ role in ensuring a smooth midyear transition doesn’t end when their child is enrolled in his new virtual public school, has all his books and academic supplies and has started classes. “The key to a smooth transition – to any school, not just a virtual public school — is for parents to maintain an open dialogue and communications with the school,” observes Tisha Rinker, senior manager of school counseling for Connections Academy.

You can find money to pay for college

(ARA) – In a competitive job market, earning a degree can be the biggest single step one can take to enhance career value and earning potential. As many bask in the glow of making plans to increase their career potential, the prospect of paying for college is a sobering reality.

Few of us have funds set aside for this endeavor. In addition, the College Board’s annual “Trends in College Pricing” reports a rise in tuition costs at public and private institutions for the 2009-2010 school year. According to the report, annual tuition and fees at private four-year colleges rose 4.4 percent to $26,273, and public university costs rose 6.5 percent to $7,020.

Prospective students often don’t know where to start. But take heart; Darlene Violet, director of Financial Aid at Brown Mackie College – Akron, Ohio, offers advice on funding your education. “The U.S. Department of Education distributes $96 billion a year in grants, work-study assistance, and low-interest loans,” Violet says. “Every student begins the process of seeking financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form, known as the ‘FAFSA.’” Information submitted on the FAFSA form determines the amount a student may receive through a federal Pell Grant, which is based on financial need. The recent economic stimulus program increased Pell Grant funds by $500 per student. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

Beyond completing the FAFSA, many turn next to student loans. “An education is always a good investment,” says Violet, “but many people don’t realize the loans must be paid back starting six months after leaving school. I advise students to seek out and apply for scholarships.” Wide varieties of organizations offer scholarships, from fraternities and sororities to community groups, foundations, and corporations. Winning candidates receive funds based on a vast spectrum of criteria, including ethnicity and cultural heritage. “Students just don’t take the time to find them,” Violet continued. “It can be a lot of work.”

The Scholarship Committee at Brown Mackie College – Akron hired a group of honor students to help others navigate through the many scholarships available, complete the application forms, and provide feedback on essays written for submission. “This allows students the security to delve deeper into the scholarship world. It’s well worth it,” Violet says.

Scholarship awards can be as important to the educational institution as they are to the student. Federal guidelines, known as the 90-10 rule, mandate that no more than 90 percent of the funds received by a college can come from Federal loans and grants. A minimum of 10 percent must come from outside sources, including scholarships, private loans, and the students’ own financial contributions.

Violet recommends checking additional resources as well. “Many employers will pay or reimburse tuition expenses, sometimes even for immediate family members. And the Veteran’s Administration offers benefits to those who have served our country,” she says. The Workforce Investment Act offers grants to those who qualify, and many churches offer scholarship opportunities. In addition, the Orphan Foundation of America offers scholarships to students who are wards of the state.

Further savings can come in the form of a temporary tax credit. The American Opportunity Tax Credit, included in the economic stimulus bill signed by President Barack Obama, can be worth as much as $2,500. People who earn $80,000 or less a year (or $160,000 or less for joint filers) can claim this credit on money paid for tuition, certain fees and course materials for higher education in 2009 and 2010. For complete details, visit www.irs.gov.

Once a student enters college, Violet advises making other financial considerations:

Ride public transportation. In addition to saving on fuel and parking fees, public transportation provides time for students to get a head start on assigned reading and homework.

Avoid credit card offers. However tempting the offer seems, credit cards charge interest on purchases and impose fees for late payments.

Work while attending classes. Many students work full- or part-time while earning their degrees. The federal work-study program helps eligible students find employment on campus.

“Taking the time to apply for scholarship funds is a step that can help now while they’re in school, and in the future when no bill comes due,” Violet says.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Financial Aid Information Site: One-stop shop for anything about college financial aid. Learn how you can quickly and easily get more Financial Aid without having to apply for thousands of scholarships!

Instant College Admission Essay Kit : Admission essay/personal statement writing kit with 33 downloadable templates that can save applicants hundreds of dollars.

Make your family’s education as debt-free as possible: Whether you intend to send your child off to college or plan to pursue an academic or vocational path for yourself, reducing student debt load makes good financial sense, especially since the sticker shock of almost all kinds of post-secondary education can be daunting.

The net price of four-year colleges has risen rapidly since 2002 and the average increase in tuition and fees at public four-year colleges in 2008-2009 was 6.5 percent, according to the College Board. Twenty percent of students attending colleges and universities experienced an increase of 9 percent or more.

Unfortunately, this has occurred against the backdrop of the current recession, which has meant the elimination of many scholarship programs. According to U.S. News and World Report, financial aid will get tougher for anyone hoping for free money from any of the three main sources of scholarships: governments; charities, foundations and corporations; and schools.

Now is the time to learn the ins and outs of funding a post-secondary education. Here are some tips to help you get “smart” about paying for education costs.

* Start an education savings plan. If your children are quite young, or if you are making plans of your own, you may want to consider putting savings aside, taking out a prepaid tuition plan or establishing a 529 plan. Your relatives and friends may also want to participate in your family’s savings strategy by contributing to your education savings as part of their holiday gift-giving, or to mark special occasions such as a marriage, anniversary or birth of a child. Or, you can decide to set aside any such cash gifts and keep them in an education savings account to redeem later, when needed.

* Check out scholarships. Beyond scholarships offered by individual colleges and universities, look for scholarships in unusual places. Community foundations, civic groups, religious groups, chambers of commerce, charitable trusts, public companies and private organizations also offer scholarships. For example, Foresters provides members with innovative life insurance products and benefits of membership such as a competitive scholarship program for its members, their spouses and dependent children. The scholarships, which recognize volunteering and community service in equal measure to good grades, are designed to encourage and support those who make volunteering an important part of their lives. Up to 350 scholarships are available for many kinds of post-secondary education, including vocational and trade schools, colleges and universities, and, unlike many other scholarship and loan programs, can be applied to tuition as well as room and board. It’s also important to familiarize yourself with tax considerations related to scholarships, as scholarships are tax-free on certain qualifying tuition and fee (but not room and board) costs.

* Consider the impact of inflation. College prices today are not going to be the same as they will be in the year 2027, when children born in 2009 will likely begin their freshman year. The College Board reports that published college prices rise more rapidly than other goods and services, a trend that has persisted for more than 30 years. Continuing this compounding trend forward 18 years, this could result in four-year education expenses costing literally tens of thousands of dollars more than an equivalent education today. So it is important to budget and save in accordance with the cost of education in the future and not simply base a savings plan on the cost of an education today.

* Plan for the long term. Having a life insurance plan can add financial security for your family’s education. If you haven’t put a life insurance plan in place, now is a good time to do so. For example, should your heirs need financial assistance after you’ve passed away, a life insurance benefit could be used to help pay for their post-secondary education.

By taking these steps and seeking help from qualified financial advisors, you have a better chance of making your family members’ post-secondary education as debt-free as possible.

Financial Aid Information Site: One-stop shop for anything about college financial aid. Learn how you can quickly and easily get more Financial Aid without having to apply for thousands of scholarships!

Instant College Admission Essay Kit : Admission essay/personal statement writing kit with 33 downloadable templates that can save applicants hundreds of dollars.

Courtesy of ARAcontent