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Lost at School

Why our kids with behavioral challenges are falling through the cracks and how we can help them, table of contents, reading group guide, about the book.

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About The Author

Dr. Ross W. Greene is the author of Raising Human Beings , Lost and Found , Lost at School , and The Explosive Child . Dr. Greene was on the faculty at Harvard Medical School for over twenty years, and is now founding director of the nonprofit organization Lives in the Balance (LivesintheBalance.org), through which he disseminates the model of care—now called Collaborative & Proactive Solutions —described in his books. Dr. Greene’s research has been funded by the US Department of Education, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Stanley Medical Research Institute, and the Maine Juvenile Justice Advisory Group. He speaks widely throughout the world.

Product Details

• Publisher: Scribner (September 30, 2014)
• Length: 336 pages
• ISBN13: 9781501101496

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Dr. Ross Greene

Originator of the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions Approach

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I wrote Lost at School because a lot of educators were telling me they wanted a book on Collaborative & Proactive Solutions that was specially geared toward the problems they face in school...and the colleagues who were still stuck in old ways of thinking about school discipline. It's had an impact on discipline practices in many schools...just not enough of them just yet. - RG

Lost at School

The wasted human potential is tragic. In so many schools, kids with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges are still poorly understood and treated in a way that is completely at odds with what is now known about how they came to be challenging in the first place. The frustration and desperation felt by teachers and parents is palpable. Many teachers continue to experience enormous stress related to classroom behavior problems and from dealing with parents, and do not receive the support they need to help their challenging students. Half of teachers leave the profession within their first four years, and kids with behavioral challenges and their parents are cited as one of the major reasons. Parents know there’s trouble at school, know they’re being blamed, feel their kids are being misunderstood and mistreated, but feel powerless to make things better and are discouraged and put off by their interactions with school personnel.

School discipline is broken. Not surprisingly, tightening the vise grip hasn’t worked. A task force of the American Psychological Association has recently concluded that zero-tolerance policies, which were intended to reduce violence and behavior problems in our schools, have instead achieved the opposite effect. A review of ten years of research found that these policies have not only failed to make schools safe or more effective in handling student behavior, but have actually increased behavior problems and dropout rates. Yet public elementary and secondary schools in the United States continue to dole out a whopping 110,000 expulsions and 3 million suspensions each year, along with countless tens of millions of detentions.

Behind the statistics, behind each expulsion, suspension, and detention, are human beings—kids, teachers, parents—doing the best they can with the tools they have. Dramatic changes are needed to help them. And my experience suggests that these changes won’t be as painful and difficult as many fear. We cannot keep doing things the way we always have and continue losing kids on a scale that is truly astounding. This book is about doing things a different way.

I interact with hundreds of challenging kids every year. These kids would like nothing better than to be able to handle the social, emotional, and behavioral challenges being placed on them at school and in life, but they can’t seem to pull it off. Many have been getting into trouble for so long that they’ve lost faith that any adult will ever know how to help them. I work with hundreds of teachers every year, too. The vast majority care deeply about kids and devote massive amounts of time and energy to the kids they teach. But most readily acknowledge that understanding and helping challenging kids wasn’t a major part of their education, and that they could use some serious help with some of these students and their parents. And most are so caught up in the daily demands of teaching and all the new initiatives imposed on them that they simply don’t have time to reflect on how to better help the challenging kids in their classrooms.

I also work with hundreds of parents of challenging kids every year. Most are eager to work with school personnel in addressing their kids’ challenges in an effective and compassionate way, but they aren’t exactly sure how to make it happen.

Helping kids with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges is not a mechanical exercise. Kids aren’t robots, adults aren’t robots, and helping them work together isn’t robotic. The work is hard, messy, uncomfortable, and requires teamwork, patience, and tenacity, especially as the work also involves questioning conventional wisdom and practices…

This book is not about academics. There are plenty of initiatives in the field of education to make sure kids get what they need academically. This book is about the kids those initiatives inexplicably left behind.

This book does not bash or blame educators. Nor, for that matter, does it bash or blame challenging kids or their parents. It’s about the need to make dramatic changes in a system that isn’t working for teachers, parents, or challenging kids, and how to go about making those changes. Three massive shifts are required: (1) a dramatic improvement in understanding the factors that set the stage for challenging behavior in kids; (2) creating mechanisms for helping these kids that are predominantly proactive instead of reactive; and (3) creating processes so people can work on problems collaboratively.

Different people will take different things from this book. For some, the fact that challenging behavior can be traced back to lagging cognitive skills will be quite novel. For others, the limitations of consequences could be an eye-opener. For still others, the specific ingredients involved in solving problems collaboratively, and how these ingredients differ from (and are often more productive than) other ways of talking with and caring about challenging kids, will be enlightening. And for still others—perhaps those who have become a bit jaded or cynical—this book may offer a fresh perspective and new hope.

If you are a real teacher (or principal or dean) in a real school, this humane and engaging book will surprise you with its combination of practicality and idealism. It will inspire you to change things and to believe in the possibility of change. After teaching for eight years, I have spent the last three as "the discipline guy", Dean of Students, in a small, rural middle school. As both teacher and now as dean I have developed a deep suspicion of a certain sort of books. You know the ones: written by theoreticians or one-on-one therapists who have never had to juggle a roomful of 25 actual young human beings with not enough time, not enough resources and far too much of paperwork, testing, and ringing bells; and more and more deeply-troubled youngsters. These are the books that anxious or angry and frustrated parents bring to meetings that tell them how you should be meeting the needs of their unsuccessful or disruptive child. These books make things far worse for everyone involved. "Lost at School" is different; and that's clear from the beginning. After a brief introduction -- which pulls no punches in saying "school discipline is broken" -- the book launches into a story! Every teacher I know likes a good story - and this one feels so much like real (school) -- life from the beginning that it sets the hook for the rest of the book. The different thing about this story is not the characterization of the troubled and challenging kids, but of its inclusion of the realistic range of adult personalities that combine to make education what it is, and sometimes isn't. Amazon reviewer

Please read this book! I couldn't put it down. It encouraged me and helped me step back so that I could get a fresh outlook with my children's motivations and struggles. If you are struggling with behavioral issues in your classroom or at home and have ADHD students or students with other behavioral issues, I believe this book will encourage you. This book is geared toward educators, but I believe it would also be very valuable and helpful for parents who have children with behavioral challenges to understand why their children are struggling in school and what can be done to help them. The premise of this book is that traditional methods of rewards and consequences are not effective with students with behavioral problems. So, we are faced with the question, "What do we do now?" The author's answer is that we need to discard the labels of things like Bipolar and ADHD and look more deeply at the skills students are lacking--emotional and intellectually. We, as parents and teachers, need to equip students so that they can cope. There is an inventory/questionnaire at the back of the book called the ALSUP, which is a great tool to help you pinpoint your child/student's struggles. The book focuses on the philosophy behind this list of skills and then how to implement strategies to address the student's/child's needs. The author does a great job of giving examples that illustrate his points. I highly recommend this book! Many books written for educators are very dry and hard to get through. On the other hand, this book is interesting and thought provoking throughout! Amazon reviewer

I was very surprised and impressed by this book. It takes a simple premise, that kids who struggle behaviorally because they are lacking critical cognitive skills, and explains it in a very straightforward manner, giving you everything you need and more to understand it. At the end of each chapter is a Q&A section where the author answers probable reader questions and compares his theory to other popular psychological and educational models, as well as a story that shows the process in action. While the story is a little cheeky, it does its job well, and it makes for a more compelling read. Overall, this is one of the best books I've read on dealing with troubled students, and it's a method that I'll definitely be trying in my classroom in the weeks and months to come. Amazon reviewer

No one in America has thought more deeply about the problems of disruptive children in school than Ross Greene. In this brilliant book, he goes inside the minds of children and school personnel to explain why old-fashioned school discipline and zero-tolerance policies have failed. Then he offers original and tested new strategies for working with the most behaviorally challenging children. Every teacher and administrator who has ever felt that traditional discipline isn’t working should read Lost at School. Dr. Michael Thompson, coauthor of Raising Cain, and author of Best Friends, Worst Enemies

We cannot ignore difficult student behaviors any longer. Dr. Greene’s book is a timely contribution to the literature on how schools must support all students, and his approach fits well with Response to Intervention (RTI). Rachel Brown-Chidsey, Ph.D., NCSP, associate professor, School Psychology Program, University of Southern Maine, and coauthor of Response to Intervention

All content © Dr. Ross Greene

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Lost at School

Why our kids with behavioral challenges are falling through the cracks and how we can help them, by ross w. greene.

Frequent visits to the principal's office. Detentions. Suspensions. Expulsions. These are the established tools of school discipline for kids who don't abide by school rules, have a hard time getting along with other kids, don't seem to respect authority, don't seem interested in learning, and are disrupting the learning of their classmates. But there's a big problem with these strategies: They are ineffective for most of the students to whom they are applied.

It's time for a change in course.

Here, Dr. Ross W. Greene presents an enlightened, clear-cut, and practical alternative. Relying on research from the neurosciences, Dr. Greene offers a new conceptual framework for understanding the difficulties of kids with behavioral challenges and explains why traditional discipline isn't effective at addressing these difficulties. Emphasizing the revolutionarily simple and positive notion that kids do well if they can, he persuasively argues that kids with behavioral challenges are not attention-seeking, manipulative, limit-testing, coercive, or unmotivated, but that they lack the skills to behave adaptively. And when adults recognize the true factors underlying difficult behavior and teach kids the skills in increments they can handle, the results are astounding: The kids overcome their obstacles; the frustration of teachers, parents, and classmates diminishes; and the well-being and learning of all students are enhanced.

In Lost at School, Dr. Greene describes how his road-tested, evidence-based approach -- called Collaborative Problem Solving -- can help challenging kids at school.

His lively, compelling narrative includes:

• tools to identify the triggers and lagging skills underlying challenging behavior.

• explicit guidance on how to radically improve interactions with challenging kids -- along with many examples showing how it's done.

• dialogues, Q & A's, and the story, which runs through the book, of one child and his teachers, parents, and school.

• practical guidance for successful planning and collaboration among teachers, parents, administrations, and kids.

Backed by years of experience and research, and written with a powerful sense of hope and achievable change, Lost at School gives teachers and parents the realistic strategies and information to impact the classroom experience of every challenging kid.

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• Presentations

How to Do a Presentation in Class

Last Updated: March 13, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Patrick Muñoz . Patrick is an internationally recognized Voice & Speech Coach, focusing on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting and speech therapy. He has worked with clients such as Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, and Roselyn Sanchez. He was voted LA's Favorite Voice and Dialect Coach by BACKSTAGE, is the voice and speech coach for Disney and Turner Classic Movies, and is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,634,680 times.

Doing a presentation in class can be intimidating, but it does not have to be. This wikiHow will give you lots of pointers on how to do a presentation in class with minimal stress.

Planning the Presentation

• Write down keywords or main ideas. If you need to consult your index cards, you're only going to want to scan the index card for information, not read every last word.
• Most of the time, the act of putting information down on your index cards will help you remember the information. So, while you might not strictly need the note cards, it's a nice security blanket to have if you happen to forget what you were going to say.
• You don't want to be reading straight off your notecards during your presentation.

• Practice in front of your family or friends, or in front of the mirror, when you rehearse your presentation. It's probably better to do it in front of friends who you may not know well, as this will help you replicate the feeling of being in front of the class.
• Ask your friends for feedback after you finish your presentation. Was the presentation long enough? How was your eye contact? Did you stammer at all? Were all the points clearly made?
• Make a critique of your practice performance. Challenge yourself to work on all the things that you believe you can improve during the real presentation. When it comes time to deliver the real deal, you'll feel confident knowing that you've worked extra hard on what was toughest for you.

• Get quotes from reliable sources. Good quotes make a good presentation great. Taking what smart people have said and putting it into your presentation not only makes you look smart, it shows the teacher that you spent time thinking about what other people said.
• Make sure your sources are trustworthy. There's nothing that can quite break your confidence like a fact that turns out to not be a fact. Don't always trust the information you get off the Internet.

Delivering the Presentation

• Studies have shown that smiles are infectious; that means that once you smile, it's hard for everyone else not to smile. So if you want your presentation to go off without a hitch, force yourself to smile. That'll make everyone smile; and maybe those smiles will make you actually smile.

• Think about your intention before you talk to your audience. Do you want to educate, enlighten, or entertain this audience? What is the effect that you want to have on the listener?
• Visualize success before, during, and after your presentation. Be humble about what you do — no need for cockiness — but imagine a successful presentation at all times. Don't let the thought of failure creep into your mind.
• In many ways, your confidence is just as important as the information you're delivering. You don't want to spread misinformation, or skimp on doing your research, but a lot of what you'll be graded on — and what the other students come away with — is going to be your level of confidence. Also if you are confident, you will have a better time exchanging ideas with the class.
• If you need a confidence boost, think big picture. After 10 or 15 minutes, your presentation will be over. What will your presentation matter in the long run? Probably not very much. Try to do the best you can, but if you're getting nervous, remind yourself that there are much more important moments in your life to come.

• Have the goal of looking at every person in the classroom at least once. That way, everyone will feel like you've engaged with them. Plus, you'll look like you know what you're talking about.

• Inflection is the kind of movement that radio DJs put into their voice; it's the ramped-up pitch in your voice when it gets excited. You don't want to sound like you've just seen a lion, but you also don't want to sound like you've just seen a squirrel, either. Vary it up to make the presentation more interesting.

• Tell a story, maybe one with a personal note. Stories are great for history or English presentations. Maybe you can tie your presentation into a little anecdote about a famous historical person?
• Ask a provocative question. Ending with a question is a good way of getting your audience to think about your presentation in an interesting way. Is there a certain conclusion you want them to come to?

What Is The Best Way To Start a Presentation?

Community Q&A

• Have good posture. Don't cross or fold your arms, keep them open. Don't slouch and keep your back straight. [8] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Don't forget to look at everyone, not just the floor. Don't stare at anyone in particular but 'skim' the class. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• Try not to argue with your audience. This detracts from your presentation. Just tell them they have an interesting point and that you'll check and get back to them. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1

• Some people may be so tied up before a presentation that they feel faint and may pass out during their speech. If this describes you, make sure you prepare especially hard and keep your blood sugar up before you present. Thanks Helpful 14 Not Helpful 1
• Don't keep your mobile phone in your pocket or it will interfere with the microphone (if any). Thanks Helpful 13 Not Helpful 6

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.gvsu.edu/ours/oral-presentation-tips-30.htm
• ↑ https://www.uwe.ac.uk/study/study-support/study-skills/presenting-and-working-with-others
• ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zcfv4wx/articles/zdn3d6f
• ↑ https://homes.cs.washington.edu/~mernst/advice/giving-talk.html

About This Article

The best way to prepare for your class presentation is to practice in front of a friend or family member. When it’s time to present, make eye contact with your audience and use hand motions to illustrate your points. Don’t forget to smile! Finish strong with a final statistic or provocative question. If you’re still nervous, read on for more advice! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Lost at School: Why Our Kids with Behavioral Challenges are Falling Through the Cracks and How We Can Help Them Paperback – September 30, 2014

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• Print length 336 pages
• Language English
• Publication date September 30, 2014
• Dimensions 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.38 inches
• ISBN-10 1501101498
• ISBN-13 978-1501101496
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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scribner; Updated edition (September 30, 2014)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1501101498
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1501101496
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.4 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.38 inches
• #7 in Behavioral Disorders in Special Ed.
• #12 in Education Administration (Books)
• #34 in Parenting & Family Reference

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Malia Heath

About the author

Ross w. greene.

Dr. Ross Greene is the New York Times bestselling author of the influential books The Explosive Child, Lost at School, Raising Human Beings, and Lost & Found. He is the originator of the innovative, evidence-based approach called Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) described in these books. The CPS model provides a compassionate, accurate understanding of kids with concerning behaviors and a non-punitive, non-adversarial approach for reducing those behaviors, solving problems, enhancing skills, improving communication, and repairing relationships. Dr. Greene also developed and executive produced the award-winning feature-length documentary The Kids We Lose, a film about the counterproductive, often inhumane ways in which kids with concerning behaviors are treated -- treatment that often pushes them into the pipeline to prison -- and the difficulties and frustrations often faced by their parents, educators, and other caregivers (learn more at www.thekidswelose.com).

Dr. Greene was on the faculty at Harvard Medical School for over 20 years, and is now founding director of the non-profit Lives in the Balance (www.livesinthebalance.org), which provides free, web-based resources on the CPS approach and advocates on behalf of kids with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges and their caregivers. He is also adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychology at Virginia Tech and adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Science at the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia. The many research papers documenting the effectiveness of the CPS model can also be found on the Lives in the Balance website. Dr. Greene and his colleagues consult extensively to families, schools, and treatment facilities, and lecture widely throughout the world (visit www.cpsconnection.com for a complete listing of learning and training options). He has been featured in a wide range of media, including The Oprah Show, Good Morning America, The Morning Show, National Public Radio, The Atlantic, Mother Jones magazine, and various professional journals. He lives in Freeport, Maine.

You can connect with Dr. Greene by using the contact form on any of the above websites.

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How to Get Out of a Presentation for Class: 6 Tricks

Tyler Ellis

Having to give a presentation at school or work can be a stressful situation for many of us. While it’s usually best to face our fears, sometimes we just aren’t ready to stand in front of the class. When anxiety gets the best of us, here’s how to get out of a presentation for class: 

• Check the Syllabus in Advance for Class Participation Requirements
• Communicate to the Teacher and Request Alternative Assignments
• Keep a Valid Excuse Handy Just in Case
• Offer to do More of the Work for Less of the Speaking
• Pre-Record Your Presentation or Use Other Presentation Tools
• Consider Online Classes

Not all of these options will work on every teacher or professor, so it’s good to learn them all.

Regardless, at least one of these options will work in 99% of situations.

Why Should You Know How to Get Out of a Presentation?

Make no mistake about it: This website is about beating anxiety and panic attacks ; not avoiding them.

So why am I dedicating an entire article to how to get out of a class presentation?

The simple answer is: I’ve been there.

Anxiety, especially social anxiety, starts to rear its ugly head right around high school or college for most of us. This is a difficult, and often confusing, chapter of our lives. We’re learning who we are and how our brain works while simultaneously juggling our social, romantic, and academic lives.

Standing in front of the class stressed me out so much in high school and college, I spent more time avoiding presentations than I did studying. My daily anxiety was so bad, it's surprising I didn’t just drop out altogether. This kind of environment was simply non-conducive to learning for me.

While I didn’t always avoid presentations, I sure did skip a lot of them. Unfortunately, skipping presentations reflects poorly on your GPA, which doesn’t always feel fair; After all, you’re an anxious student, not an incompetent one!

This article is for any student who is desperately nervous about a class presentation coming up.  For anyone who doesn’t want their GPA to suffer or to have to quit school due to social anxiety;  anyone who just isn’t ready to be pushed into facing a phobia before they’re ready.

Of course, ultimately, I want to see my readers conquer their fear of public speaking once and for all. Head over to this article if you’re ready to overcome presentation anxiety and stage fright   for good.

For everyone else, let’s just focus on how to get out of a class presentation for now.

Why am I Nervous About Speaking in Front of Class?

If anxiety and panic attacks are new to you, they can be pretty overwhelming and confusing. Perhaps something simple, like giving a speech in class, is making you nervous when it never did in the past. This is totally normal and was my experience as well.

Before my first few panic attacks, I would’ve never understood the fear of public speaking. Sometime in early high school, I had a completely random panic attack while giving a speech. Thankfully, it largely went unnoticed, but it made me anxious about every class presentation to follow.

A fear of public speaking can develop for a number of reasons. For many people, it’s a genetic predisposition to social anxiety; at a certain age, we start to worry more about what people think. For others, we learn to associate a negative or traumatic experience with the situation and become anxious when we think about it. 

While it may not make sense for us to panic in such a harmless situation, there’s an evolutionary explanation for this. Since our brains evolved to their current form many years ago, some systems once intended to assist us now simply cause us stress. Being surrounded by a crowd may be harmless today, but to our ancestors it may have posed a very real risk.

If you’ve got some time to kill, check out this piece on the evolutionary psychology behind anxiety .

1. Check the Syllabus in Advance for Class Participation Requirements

* Note – This trick is specifically for college students and may not work in high school*

Something I learned early on in college was that I simply learned better on my own. This was no disrespect to my professors of course, they were all great! But I was a psychology student who was genuinely fascinated by the course material.

I was content to read the textbooks by myself from the comfort of my dorm room. Struggling to stay awake in a 9am lecture hall, or nervously shifting in my seat before a class presentation, did nothing to improve my understanding of psychology. I learned best on my own.

Knowing this, I devised a system for how to avoid class presentations and class participation in general. I called this trick the “Take 7, Drop 5” method. Here’s how it worked:

• During class enrollment, I would sign up for 7 classes per semester (The standard course-load was 5). These could be any classes that would count toward my degree.
• I'd wait for the first week of class to come and go (syllabus week).
• I’d skip syllabus week altogether ( you better believe my social anxiety didn’t want to play icebreaker games).
• Now I’d look on the student portal to read the posted syllabus for each class. The syllabi are typically used as a loose contract to inform the student of how their grade will be determined.
• If I saw a class where the grade was heavily dependent on participation (e.g., 40% of the grade coming from speaking in class, attendance, or group projects) I would drop it.
• In general, I favored classes where the professors did not assign projects, or even grade attendance. Classes where the daily lectures were posted online were ideal for me.
• In the end, I would drop two out of seven classes I originally enrolled in. This came with no penalty since I would drop within the first few weeks. I’d end with a standard course-load of 5 classes.
• Repeating this process each semester, I managed to get great grades largely from the comfort of home. I would only really have to go into most classes to take the tests.

Funny enough, I actually had a number of friends ask, “ I never see you in class, how are you passing? ”

The reality was, this is how I learned best; self-guided and from home. It’s not a system that works for everybody, but it’s an option for anyone wondering how to avoid class presentations and participation.

2. Communicate to the Teacher and Request Alternative Assignments

I firmly believe that most teachers and professors really do want their students to succeed.

As professional public speakers , it can be easy for teachers and professors to forget that some students are socially anxious. Sometimes, they may want to push students to face their fears and grow.

Regardless, no teacher can know what you’re feeling unless you communicate with them.

The absolute easiest way to get out of a class presentation is to talk to your teacher about it. Sure, this can feel like an embarrassing and difficult topic to bring up. Nonetheless, I promise you are not the first person your teacher has spoken to about a fear of public speaking. 

You can pull your teacher aside for a private conversation, or even reach out to them via email. Let them know how hard it was for you to even come to them and open up about this issue. Explain to them that you are going through something difficult right now with your anxiety.

Most teachers will be able to sympathize with your situation and perhaps propose an alternative assignment for you. Others, however, might insist that the best way to conquer this fear is to tackle it head-on (which isn’t false). You can assure them that you plan to address the issue in your own way eventually; for now, you’re just looking for some compassion.

The important thing here is honesty and compromise.

Teachers deal with a lot of lazy students who come up with all kinds of excuses to get out of work. You want to make it clear to your teacher than this is not your intention.

Suggest a compromise.

Perhaps, rather than giving a 5-minute presentation, you could write a 5-page essay?

Make some ambitious suggestions and see if you can come to an agreement. After all, as long the work is getting done and you’re learning, isn’t that the most important thing?

I made these kinds of compromises with professors on a number of occasions. I’m not too proud to admit that one time, I even gave my presentation to the teacher privately in an empty room.

Be honest, open, and willing to put in hard work, and most teachers will be willing to work with you.

3. Keep a Valid Excuse Handy Just in Case

Perhaps the least ethical of my suggestions today, but this worked for me enough times to make the list.

Ah yes, the age-old “ my dog ate my homework” trick.

The simple fact is, things do come up in our lives that require us to take a day off from class.

For Missing a Presentation or Class

Good excuses:.

• You’ve come down with an illness
• Your child, parent, or spouse has come down with an illness
• There has been a pet emergency and you need to go to the vet
• You are occupied with a family emergency
• A canceled or delayed flight (check flight cancellations first!)
• There has been an emergency with your home (fire, gas leak, pests, etc.)

Bad Excuses:

• "I forgot."
• "I was tired and didn’t feel like coming in today."
• "The alarm didn’t go off."
• "My car broke down" (No longer a great excuse due to rideshare).
• "My dog ate my homework" (You're better than that)!

The key to a good excuse is that it's out of your control and doesn't reflect poorly upon your reliability. Ideally, it's also something that cannot be disproved; if you use an excuse like a canceled flight, actually look up  flight cancelations from the night before.

If you’re going to use one of these excuses, you should let your teacher or professor know immediately. Waiting a week to give them your excuse takes away from your reliability and credibility. Inform them of your “situation” immediately, and ask for a chance to make up the assignment.

It’s unlikely your presentation would be rescheduled to cut into another day’s lesson. More likely, your professor will ask you to email your project over or present it privately during office hours.

Fun Fact: During my worst days with panic attacks and anxiety, I truly used some ridiculous excuses to avoid presenting. I’m by no means proud of this (it’s very embarrassing) … but one time, I went up to the professor with tissues pressed to my nose. I told her I had a nosebleed and had to go to the restroom. I handed her my speech and just never went back. Fortunately for me, she accepted and graded it.

Like I said, by no means do I think making excuses is the best long-term strategy. I’d just rather give any extremely anxious students an option beyond dropping out entirely.

4. Offer to do More of the Work for Less of the Speaking

If negotiations with your teacher or professor don’t go so well, you can always talk to your peers.

The good thing about public speaking in school is that most assignments are group presentations. If you can’t figure out how to get out of a group presentation, you can at least talk to your groupmates about how you’re feeling.

In today’s day and age, people are much more open and understanding of mental health issues. Anxiety is no different, and most people are aware that other people experience a degree of stage fright. With any luck, someone in your group will have less of an issue with this.

Something you might consider is asking to take a lesser role speaking in the presentation. If the other students are anxious as well, this may be a hard sell; but at least then you have some solidarity.

Otherwise, you can offer to do more of the work researching or writing the presentation in exchange for a lesser speaking role – a great deal for anyone who doesn’t mind talking. If all else fails, you can always slip someone a twenty to read your lines (sorry for my loose moral compass).

Note – for group presentations, really make an effort to negotiate a fair arrangement. Be willing to work hard to make up for less speaking. Don’t surprise the group and ditch; it’s unfair to pass your stress over like a baton. Your teacher won’t appreciate it either, and you’ll probably fail.

5. Pre-Record Your Presentation or Use Other Presentation Tools

This is my absolute favorite trick for how to get out of giving a presentation.

With this method, you can create a high-quality presentation without having to stand in front of the class and speak.  In other words: Get the A+ without the stage fright.

There are several ways to do this.

The most basic method is simply a pre-recorded video of you speaking to the camera in a “talking head” video. Depending on the quality you want, most people could do this for free by recording with a smartphone or webcam. For better results, use a quality camera and editing software.

Better yet, you could drop the video (or just an audio recording) in the corner of a standard PowerPoint presentation. This way, it’s as simple as hitting “play” and stepping away from the stage. You get the same information across without having to actively speak in front of the class.

The best results (in my opinion) would be to utilize some premium presentation software tools. Among my favorites are Doodly   and Toonly , which allow one to easily create high-quality animated videos (don’t worry, they’re extremely intuitive, drag-and-drop style). This is my favorite option because the result looks like you put in more work rather than less .

Check out this article on my favorite presentation software reviews   before you spend any money.

6. Consider Online Classes 

Not everyone thrives in the traditional classroom setting; I know I didn’t.

For these people, online classes can be a good option.

Now, more than ever before, we’re realizing that colleges can just as effectively teach students online as in-person. Even better, self-paced learning allows the kind of flexibility necessary to receive an education while balancing work and family. It’s often much more affordable as well.

Since I already have an article discussing how online classes can help anxious students , I’ll leave off here. If constantly figuring out how to get out of giving a presentation isn’t your thing, consider online classes.

Why Avoiding Presentations May Not be the Best Strategy

We’ve talked a lot about how to get out a presentation in school.

Now it’s time for me to be responsible and tell you a hard truth.

Avoiding our fears can be a massive relief, but ultimately, it’s a terrible long-term strategy. To actually beat our anxiety, we need to be willing to confront our phobias – even when this is uncomfortable.

My favorite way to do this is through gradual habituation . Basically, exposing ourselves to our fears at a slow, if slightly uncomfortable pace. Through time and practice, our fears are lessened bit by bit. The trick is to step just outside out comfort zone without necessarily “jumping right into the fire.”

Are you constantly looking for ways to get out of giving a presentation at school? Consider what a small step outside your comfort zone may look like. Could you raise your hand a bit more in class? Could you practice your speech in front of five close friends? Maybe you could try and read a poem at a small open mic night?

When you're ready, check out our article on how to overcome the fear of presenting .

Rather than focusing on avoidance tactics, this article will actually help you to beat your stage fright. This is one of the best things we can do for our education, career, and mental health.  

Can a Teacher Force You to Do a Presentation?

Unfortunately, unless you have a formally recognized disability, your teacher can definitely “force” you to present. A teacher has every right to fail a student who is unable to give a presentation or speech in class. If you’re anxious, your best bet is to talk honestly with your teacher to try and find a compromise.

How to Get Out of a Presentation at Work?

While this article focused on students in high school and college, most of the same tactics can be used at work. Since work will more likely be about results than a graded task, the best option here is likely to use presentation tools. This should make your boss happy while also helping to minimize your stage fright.

How Do I Stay Calm During a Presentation?

Take control of your breathing; 4 seconds in, 7 second hold, 8 seconds out. Find a focus object in the room to focus your thoughts on whenever your mind starts to wander anxiously. Look for a friendly face in the crowd if you get too nervous. Remember that this will all be over in just a few short minutes.

Unlock the Secrets  to Managing Anxiety  without Harmful Meds

Not next week. Not tomorrow. Today. 

Getting started is easy with our #1 recommended online anxiety course.

For a limited time,  click here to watch the first few lessons of Anxiety Academy completely free. Like what you see? Access the rest of the course, all future course updates, plus lifetime access to our exclusive online community, for a small one-time payment today!

Loved this? Spread the word

About the Author

Years of personal experience with anxiety disorders and panic attacks have led me to devise some pretty creative ways to keep my anxiety in check. In the past, anxiety and panic attacks felt like something I'd have to live with forever. Nowadays, panic attacks are a distant memory for me, and I'm free to pursue passions like writing and traveling the world. Hopefully, the information on this website can help you achieve the same. I do all the writing here myself, so don't hesitate to reach out with questions!

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75 Unique School Presentation Ideas and Topics Plus Templates

Are you tired of seeing the same PowerPoints repeating overused and unoriginal school presentation ideas covering repeated topics in your classes?

You know what I’m talking about; we’ve all been there, and sat through yawn-worthy demonstrations, slides, or presentation videos covering everything from the solar system, someone’s favorite pet, past presidents of a country, to why E=mC squared.

From grade school to university, first graders to college students, we are obligated to create, perform, and observe academic presentations across a plethora of curriculums and classes, and not all of these public speaking opportunities fall into the category of an ‘interesting topic’.

Yet, have no fear! Here at Piktochart, we are here to help you and your classmates. From giving examples of creative and even interactive presentation ideas, providing presentation videos , and suggesting interactive activities to give your five minutes of fame the ‘wow’ factor that it deserves, this article is your guide!

Our massive collection of unique school and college presentation ideas and templates applies if you’re:

• A teacher looking to make your class more engaging and fun with student presentations.
• A student who wants to impress your teacher and the rest of the class with a thought-provoking, interesting topic.

A Curated List of Interesting Topics for School Presentations

Did you know that when it comes to presentations , the more students involved improves retention? The more you know! Yet sometimes, you need a little help to get the wheels moving in your head for your next school presentation .

The great thing about these ideas and topics is you can present them either in face-to-face classes or virtual learning sessions.

Each school presentation idea or topic below also comes with a template that you can use. Create a free Piktochart account to try our presentation maker and get access to the high-quality version of the templates. You can also check out our Piktochart for Education plan .

Want to watch this blog post in video format? The video below is for you!

The templates are further divided into the following categories covering the most popular and best presentation topics. Click the links below to skip to a specific section.

• Unique science presentation topics to cultivate curiosity in class
• Engaging culture and history presentation ideas to draw inspiration from
• Health class presentation topics to help students make healthy lifestyle decisions
• Data visualization ideas to help students present an overwhelming amount of data and information into clear, engaging visuals
• First day of school activity ideas to foster classroom camaraderie
• Communication and media topics to teach students the importance of effective communication
• Topics to help students prepare for life after school

We hope this list will inspire you and help you nail your next school presentation activity.

Unique Science Presentation Topics to Cultivate Curiosity in Class

Science is a broad field and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with too many topics to choose for your next presentation.

Cultivate curiosity in the science classroom with the following unique and creative presentation ideas and topics:

1. Can life survive in space?

2. Do plants scream when they’re in pain?

3. What are the traits of successful inventors?

4. How vaccines work

5. Massive destruction of the Koala’s habitat in Australia

6. Left brain versus right brain

7. What are great sources of calcium?

8. Recycling facts you need to know

9. Do you have what it takes to be a NASA astronaut?

10. The rise of robots and AI: Should we be afraid of them?

11. How far down does the sea go?

12. The stages of sleep

13. Will Mars be our home in 2028?

14. A quick look at laboratory safety rules

15. The first person in history to break the sound barrier

Engaging Culture and History Presentation Ideas to Draw Inspiration From

History is filled with equally inspiring and terrifying stories, and there are lessons that students can learn from the events of the past. Meanwhile, interactive presentations about culture help students learn and embrace diversity. 

16. Women in history: A conversation through time

17. The sweet story of chocolate 

18. A history lesson with a twist 

19. The history of basketball 

20. The origin of the Halloween celebration 

21. AI History 

22. What you need to know about New Zealand 

23. 1883 volcanic eruption of Krakatoa 

24. Roman structures: 2000 years of strength

25. The most famous art heists in history 

26. Elmo: The story behind a child icon 

27. 10 things you should know before you visit South Korea 

28. 8 things you didn’t know about these 8 countries 

Health Class Presentation Topics to Help Students Make Healthy Lifestyle Decisions

Want to learn how to engage students with healthcare topic ideas? Then consider using these templates for your next interactive presentation.

According to the CDC , school-based health education contributes to the development of functional health knowledge among students. It also helps them adapt and maintain health-promoting behaviors throughout their lives. 

Not only will your presentation help with keeping students engaged, but you’ll also increase class involvement with the right slides.

The following examples of health and wellness interactive presentations include fun ideas and topics that are a good start. 

29. How to look after your mental health?

30. The eradication of Polio

31. How to have a healthy lifestyle 

32. 10 handwashing facts 

33. Myths and facts about depression

34. Hacks for making fresh food last longer 

35. Ways to avoid spreading the coronavirus

36. Mask protection in 5 simple steps 

37. Everything you need to know about the flu

38. All about stress: Prevention, tips, and how to cope 

39. The importance of sleep 

40. Is milk tea bad for you?

41. How to boost happiness in 10 minutes

42. How dirty are debit and credit cards 

43. Why do you need sunscreen protection

Data Visualization Ideas to Help Students Present Overwhelming Amounts of Data in Creative Ways

Data visualization is all about using visuals to make sense of data. Students need to pull the main points from their extensive research, and present them by story telling while being mindful of their classmates’ collective attention span.

As far as student assignments go, storytelling with data is a daunting task for students and teachers alike. To keep your audience interested, consider using a non linear presentation that presents key concepts in creative ways.

Inspire your class to be master data storytellers with the following data visualization ideas:

44. Are we slowly losing the Borneo rainforest?

45. Skateboard deck design over the years

46. Food waste during the Super Bowl

47. The weight of the tallest building in the world

48. Infographic about data and statistics

49. Stats about cyberbullying

50. How whales combat climate change

First Day of School Interactive Activity Ideas to Foster Whole-class-Camaraderie

Calling all teachers! Welcome your new students and start the school year with the following back-to-school creative presentation ideas and relevant templates for first-day-of-school activities.

These interactive presentations grab the attention of your students and are remarkably easy to execute (which is the main educator’s goal after all)!

51. Meet the teacher

52. Example: all about me

53. Self-introduction

54. Tips on how to focus on schoolwork

55. Course plan and schedule

Give our class schedule maker a try to access more templates for free. You can also access our presentation-maker , poster-maker , timeline-maker , and more by simply signing up .

56. Interpreting a student’s report card (for parents)

57. Introduction of classroom rules

58. Assignment schedule

59. Daily planner

60. Course syllabus presentation

61. How to write a class presentation

Topics to Teach Students the Importance of Effective Communication

Visual media  helps students retain more of the concepts  taught in the classroom. The following media topics and infographic templates can help you showcase complex concepts in a short amount of time. 

In addition, interactive presentation activities using these templates also encourage the development of a holistic learning process in the classroom because they help focus on the  three domains of learning:  cognitive, affective, and psychomotor. 

62. Interactive presentation do’s and don’ts 

63. How to create an infographic 

Recommended reading : How to Make an Infographic in 30 Minutes

64. How to improve your internet security and privacy

65. What is design thinking?

66. What are your favorite software tools to use in the classroom? 

Presentation Topic Ideas to Help Students Prepare for Life After School

One of the things that makes teaching a rewarding career is seeing your students take the learning and knowledge you’ve instilled in them, and become successful, productive adults.

From pitching a business idea to starting your podcast, the following topics are good starting points to prepare students for the challenges after graduation (aka adulting 101):

67. How to make a resume

68. How to start a startup

69. Credit card vs. debit card

70. Pros and cons of cryptocurrency

71. How to save on travel

72. How to do a SWOT analysis

73. How to pitch a business idea

74. Habits of successful people

75. Starting your own podcast: A checklist

Find out how a high school teacher like Jamie Barkin uses Piktochart to improve learning in the classroom for her students.

Pro tip: make your presentation as interactive as possible. Students have an attention span of two to three minutes per year of age. To keep minds from wandering off, include some interactive games or activities in the lesson. For example, if you conducted a lesson on the respiratory system, you could ask them to practice breathing techniques.

Maintain eye contact with your students, and you’ll get instant feedback on how interested they are in the interactive presentation.

Make School Presentation Visuals Without the Hassle of Making Them From Scratch

School presentations, when done right, can help teachers engage their classes and improve students’ education effectively by presenting information using the right presentation topic. 

If you’re pressed for time and resources to make your school presentation visuals , choose a template from Piktochart’s template gallery . Aside from the easy customization options, you can also print and download these templates to your preferred format. 

Piktochart also professional templates to create infographics , posters , brochures , reports , and more.

Creating school-focused, engaging, and interactive presentations can be tedious at first, but with a little bit of research and Piktochart’s handy templates, you’re going to do a great job!

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A rip current statement in effect for Coastal Broward and Coastal Miami Dade Regions

Here is a list of broward schools under ‘consideration’ for closure, changes.

Andrea Torres , Digital Journalist

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – According to a presentation Broward County Public Schools released on Monday night , the district plans to close some schools due to under-enrollment.

The presentation reported the utilization was under 55% and the district’s leaders were considering closing 42 schools — including 32 elementary schools, eight middle schools, and two high schools.

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The presentation only identified 26 of the 32 elementary schools, four of the eight middle schools, and none of the high schools.

The district is holding seven town hall meetings from Monday to May 9. The vote on the final plan is June 18.

Here is the list:

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

• Oakridge (Close)
• Broward Estates (Close)
• Silver Palms (Boundary change)
• Silver Shores (Repurposing)
• Silver Lakes (Boundary change)
• Panther Run (Program shift)
• Hollywood Central (Grade reconfiguration)
• Collins (Boundary change)
• Mary M. Bethune (Boundary change)
• Stirling (Boundary change)
• Hollywood Hills (Boundary change)
• Colbert (Boundary change)
• Thurgood Marshall (Boundary change)
• Sunland Park Academy (Boundary change/Grade reconfiguration)
• Westwood Heights (Boundary change)
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Montessori Academy (Boundary change/Program change)
• Plantation (Boundary change)
• Bennett (Repurposing/Program change/Full choice school)
• Harbordale (Boundary change)
• Virginia Shuman Young (Repurposing/Boundary change/Program change)
• North Fork (Repurposing/Full choice school)
• Walker (Boundary change)
• North Side (Boundary change)
• Deerfield Beach (Public-private partnership P3)
• Quiet Waters (Public-private partnership P3)
• Tedder (Public-private partnership P3)

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

• Olsen (Close)
• Pines (Grade reconfiguration)
• Attucks (Boundary change)
• McNicol (Boundary change)

According to the presentation’s slide on page 18, these schools were part of the total district realignment: Annabel C. Perry PK-8, Beachside Montessori Village, Dillard 6-12, Lauderhill 6-12, Millennium 6-12 Collegiate Academy, and Parkway.

FIRST TOWN HALL: Olsen Middle, Oakridge and Broward Estates elementary are among schools to close in superintendent’s new proposed plan

NEXT TOWN HALL MEETINGS

After the town hall meeting in District 1, the next meeting with Hepburn will be in District 4 at 6 p.m., at J.P. Taravella High School, 10600 Riverside Drive, in Coral Springs.

The meeting at District 5 is at 6 p.m., on May 1, at Dillard High 6-12, at 2501 NW 11 St., in Fort Lauderdale. The meeting at District 3 is at 6 p.m., on May 6, at Fort Lauderdale High School, at 1600 NE 4 Ave.

The meeting at District 2 is at 6 p.m., on May 7, at Charles W. Flanagan High School at 12800 Taft St., in Pembroke Pines.

The meeting at District 6 is at 6 p.m., on May 8, at Western High School, at 1200 SW 136 Ave., in Davie. The meeting at District 7 is at 6 p.m., on May 9, at Deerfield Beach High School, at 910 Buck Pride Way.

For more information about the meetings, visit this page .

Presentation on April 29, 2024

BCPS Redefining Our Schools presentation on April 29, 2024 by Andrea Torres on Scribd

Copyright 2024 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.

About the Author

Andrea torres.

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.

RELATED STORIES

New broward superintendent discusses top priorities during exclusive interview with local 10.

School refusal and the Australian families gripped by blame, shame, and the fear of a lost education

A growing crisis of school refusal is gripping Australia, leaving families in a hidden struggle.

When it first started happening, Alice would drag her daughter Frieda into kindergarten screaming.

The school staff would restrain the five-year-old as they locked the door.

"If tough love worked, my child would be at school. The things we put her through … I'm ashamed of it," Alice says.

She knows what other parents judge her for — being a mother who can't get her child to school.

"It's a really lonely and confusing and shameful world because you assume that you are the problem," the Sydney mum says.

"You see other families, their kids just happily going to school … and you feel like you're just in this complete other world."

Frieda, now eight, is one of the thousands of children in Australia experiencing 'school refusal', also known as 'school can't' — children who have difficulty attending school due to emotional distress.

Some days Frieda lasts to the 3pm bell, others she might only make it to the school gate or not leave home at all.

"I get a bit upset when I usually don't make it to school. 'Cause I really want to, but somehow I don't know how to get there," Frieda says.

For parents, it's a living nightmare that can result in broken careers, fear of kids missing out and threats of fines and prosecution.

For the education system, it raises fundamental questions about whether schools can actually include every child.

Distress and disengagement

An increasing number of Australian children are struggling to get to school.

In 2023, the attendance rate for students in Years 1 to 10 was 88 per cent, down from 92 per cent almost a decade earlier.

Last year, 38 per cent of all students in Years 1 to 10 were absent for more than 20 days a year – which is considered chronically absent.

Dr Lisa McKay-Brown, an education researcher at the University of Melbourne, says because there is no national data tracking the reason for absences, it's unclear what is driving disengagement.

"How many of this is medical, how many of this is school refusal, how many of this is kids on holidays? That's where the problem lies because it's really hard to resource and plan and intervene when you don't know how big the problem is," Dr McKay-Brown says.

Many parents and experts argue the more accurate term is 'school can't' — it's not that the child won't go to school, they can't.

Experts say the emotional distress can be caused by problems at home or school but is often associated with neurodiversity and mental health disorders.

"We know that there are certain groups that are more at risk than others … they may be autistic, they may have learning difficulties, ADHD. They may have anxiety or some other mood disorder," Dr McKay-Brown says.

'Ethan was left behind'

When Ethan looks at a photo of himself in grade 3, he knows behind the smile was someone without much hope.

"I felt like I wouldn't actually get a job when I get older. I would be homeless, sleeping on the side of the road," the 12-year-old says.

By grade 3 in his Geelong primary school, Ethan couldn't read or write.

He'd been falling behind for years, and becoming more disengaged.

"I couldn't even spell my name," Ethan says.

When Ethan's mum Sam saw how he was treated in class one day, it left her heartbroken.

"Instead of sitting there and writing a sentence like the other children were doing, they just said 'Oh, just draw a picture'. It pushed him further away," she says.

Pandemic lockdowns only made matters worse.

Ethan found online learning hard and later, found the return to school challenging. As he struggled to keep up, he began having physical outbursts and experiencing bullying. Eventually he started threatening self-harm if he was forced to attend school.

"It wasn't safe for me. I got bullied every day. Made me feel ... like I was locked up in a cage,” Ethan says. 

Sam, who had recently separated with four kids, was struggling to balance working to pay off her mortgage with Ethan's low attendance rate.

"Being a parent is really hard. Especially when they're having to finish school early, or you're getting phone calls saying, 'You need to come pick your child up, they've broken a window, or they've tried to self-harm'."

"You kind of can't commit to anything. Your life just goes on hold."

When Ethan's public school said they were out of options to help him, Sam added her son's name to a 100-person long waitlist for an independent school that helps youth who are disengaged from mainstream schooling.

The months slipped by as they waited for a spot.

"No child left behind is definitely not a reality, because Ethan was left behind," Sam says.

The shadow of the law

Because school attendance is required by law, for parents of kids struggling to go, the threat of legal action always looms.

When Kurt's 16-year-old daughter Hayley couldn't get out of bed to go to school, the daily texts started coming.

"Your daughter was marked absent … this absence has been recorded as unexplained or unjustified," one text from her Sydney school read.

Hayley says school staff eventually told her that her absences could result in a $11,000 fine, placing further pressure on the family.

“I had my parents coming in, like yelling at me … I got the light turned on, the blinds opened, the bed sheets pulled off, stuff like that,” Hayley says. 

During a fight with Hayley, it dawned on Kurt, who is a mental health nurse, that his daughter had depression. He'd also noticed cuts on her arms.

"The school stuff was hard, but the stuff where you cry yourself to sleep sometimes is having a child doing that themselves … and working in the industry knowing what the outcomes can be," Kurt says tearily.

Meanwhile, the texts continued, leaving Kurt fearing what might come next.

In a general statement provided to Four Corners, the NSW Department of Education said, "where attendance improvement support has been unsuccessful … and the parents have not meaningfully engaged, the matter may be referred for consideration of legal action".

Homeschooling Hayley would have stopped the texts, but for the working single-dad of two, it wasn't an option. Eventually, school staff assured him he would not be fined.

"We started talking to the deputy principal and she was excellent, so she put a plan in place with Hayley," Kurt says.

The number of homeschooled children has doubled during the past five years, from 21,456 pupils in 2019 to more than 43,797 in 2023.

Alice has seen parents post on Facebook about giving up their careers to homeschool their kids. It's an option she's thought about a lot for Frieda who has been diagnosed with autism.

"The prospect of homeschooling Frieda hangs over me every day … but I can't afford to," Alice says.

When Frieda doesn't make it into school, Alice isn't able to get through a normal work day. To make up for lost time she works into the night or over weekends.

Frieda's attendance has improved after moving to a school where staff have been more accommodating to her needs.

Despite the improvement, Alice received a formal warning letter last month regarding Frieda's attendance. A second will trigger contact from a homeschool liaison officer.

"The principal did explain it's just how the system works, and it doesn't need to be a scary thing as they may have more resources … but if I didn't have the heads up, I would have been terrified," Alice says.

"When you get something like that … it's got a shaming tone. Like you're failing at this, you're failing because your child isn't going to school all the time."

Alice feels like that sentiment runs across the department's pamphlets on school refusal, particularly the NSW Education slogan "Every School Day Counts".

"How insulting. Of course we want our kids to be going every day."

"They were putting [it] back onto the parents, it's our fault … instead of 'school attendance is tanking, so is numeracy and literacy' and the department isn't prepared to go, 'Maybe it's a problem with the system'."

'You have to go through so much trauma’ 

After a six month wait, Ethan got a place at MacKillop Education in Geelong, a non-government school that helps students disengaged from mainstream schooling to get back on track.

Teachers and the principal personally greeted the shy newcomer at the school gates every day.

With just 80 students and class sizes capped at eight, Ethan got the attention he needed to work on things like regulating his emotions when he felt challenged by the schoolwork.

"He would bite or pull his hair and he would say, 'I'm so dumb'. That's the thing that upset him most, that he thought he was stupid," says Sharyn Sadler, Ethan's support teacher.

"There was a fear of failure. And that's actually common amongst many of our children because they've experienced so much failure."

To support students' emotional regulation, classrooms are fitted with chill-out sensory spaces and teachers keep a predictable routine. Uniforms are also scrapped for students who find them itchy.

"I think there does need to be greater flexibility in the system in how we're providing education for young people to be able to access it. And that comes through knowledge, human resourcing, money," MacKillop co-principal Skye Staude says.

For most MacKillop students, the school is a transition period to get them back into a mainstream setting.

After two years at the school, Ethan's attendance went up to full-time. He can now read fluently and spell.

This year he transitioned into a mainstream government school with additional supports.

Sam knows not every child gets the opportunity Ethan does.

"Alternative schools like this, they're not as easily accessible for kids who need them. You have to go through so much trauma, so much anger. The child has to go through so much themselves to even be put in the position to access a school like this," Sam says.

"Ethan's been given that chance, and he's really grown with it."

Ethan will be a teenager next year, and he likes the person he's finally becoming.

"I feel like I got hope in myself. I'm proud of myself," Ethan says.

Sam knows that school refusal is difficult to comprehend for those that haven't lived it themselves, but knows from experience how debilitating it can be.

"You feel like there's no light at the end of the tunnel as a parent, so you're not thinking about your hopes, what you want out of your life," Sam says.

For some kids, the path ahead isn't as straightforward.

Hayley's attendance improved to 85 per cent last year when she signed up to a pilot program run by NSW Education for students with chronic attendance issues that employs interest-based learning.

But this year she's had setbacks — first with her mental health, then the program made some changes to its approach.

"Sometimes I'll be going great for a few weeks or months or even a whole year, but then stuff will not be going as great again, and then my attendance will go down again."

To stay engaged, the program has allowed Hayley to make adjustments like wearing headphones to block out distractions. She's also started attending a local school for art class four days a week.

She's noticed the change in herself.

"I'm actually doing things. Talking to people instead of staying in my room, trying to get to school."

"I want to be able to get through year 11 and 12 and get into uni to study psychology. So I've been doing as much as I can to get there."

One size doesn't fit all

The issue of school refusal, which exists largely in the shadows, was pushed into the spotlight last year by a Senate inquiry.

Greens Senator Penny Allman-Payne, who helped instigate the inquiry, says Australia's one-size-fits-all education system is outdated.

"This is the model of education that we had over 100 years ago. The world is very different now. Young people are very different now," she says.

"The good news is that we know that there are things that work: early intervention, smaller class sizes, flexible campuses, interest-led learning."

The federal government has agreed or supported in-principle two of the inquiry's 14 recommendations.

They include commissioning the Australian Education Research Organisation to analyse the drivers of school refusal and possible interventions, and disseminate school refusal training for teachers.

Alice feels like the government has stopped short of investing in schools properly. She's worried asking more of existing teachers will strain the system.

"The teachers are under so much pressure. So, they're going to do more training, more to their workload when they're already stretched?"

Frieda's attendance is now at 54 per cent, she also successfully sat her year 3 NAPLAN test.

But Alice knows there's no guarantee things will keep improving.

"I don't know what our lives are going to look like next week, next month, next year," says Alice.

The fear of the unknown scares her – if Frieda will get through the school day, if she'll get another warning letter.

"As a parent, that's pretty awful because all you want is for your kid to be happy."

Watch Four Corners: The kids who can't,  tonight from 8.30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview .

Subscribe to the Four Corners newsletter and follow Four Corners on Facebook .

Do you know more about this story? Contact Four Corners here .

Story: Mridula Amin and Sascha Ettinger-Epstein

Photography: Mridula Amin

Digital Production: Mridula Amin and Nick Wiggins

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Over 20 Picayune High students arrested following prank at school

PICAYUNE, Miss. (WLOX) - Pearl River County Sheriff David Allison confirms 21 students of Picayune Memorial High School were arrested on campus Thursday night.

The 21 students arrested were all at least 18 and charged as adults with malicious mischief after what Sheriff Allison describes as a “prank at the school that escalated.” The teens were taken and booked at the jail, where they waited until parents came to post bond.

Several students under 18 were also taken into custody but were released to their parents in Picayune.

WLOX has attempted to contact Picayune School District leaders, including the district office, the school district police chief and the principal. None have been answered at this time.

Picayune Police Chief Joe Quave notes the school district police department is the lead agency of the case, but confirms Picayune city officers assisted with the arrests.

See a spelling or grammar error in this story? Report it to our team HERE .

Copyright 2024 WLOX. All rights reserved.

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Education Department Scrambles to Make Up for Lost Time After FAFSA Blunders

With applications down significantly from past years, officials announced a renewed effort to get students to apply for federal financial aid.

By Zach Montague

Reporting from Washington

The Education Department is trying to make up for lost time after applications for federal financial aid plunged this year, with millions of students navigating delays and glitches caused by the disastrous rollout of the new application form.

James Kvaal, the under secretary of education, told reporters on Tuesday that the department had fixed many of the problems with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as FAFSA. That includes a major glitch that affected students who could not provide a Social Security number.

But Mr. Kvaal said that, by its latest count, the department had received just over 8.4 million submissions so far this year — far fewer than the roughly 17 million it processes in normal years. According to the department’s website, the deadline to apply is June 30.

“It’s been a challenging year for the FAFSA,” he said. “But I’m proud of the progress we’ve made in recent weeks.”

Education Department officials said they were enlisting help from nonprofit groups and activists to encourage more students to fill out the FAFSA form — or to finish the applications that they started but never submitted.

The department began rolling out the new FAFSA form in January — months behind schedule — with the goal of making it easier and more accessible. But students instead encountered a bureaucratic maze caused by delays in launching the website and processing critical information.

The problems left millions of high school seniors unable to figure out how much money they could expect to help pay for college.

During a hearing before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Tuesday, Education Secretary Miguel A. Cardona faced anger from lawmakers about how the rollout could harm students’ futures.

Mr. Cardona testified that while the form had been “riddled with delays and challenges,” the department expected it to be in working order for students applying for next year. The application traditionally opens on Oct. 1.

Even before the process was derailed this year, poor outreach and disparities between richer and poorer school districts were a major obstacle to access.

Many students who are eligible for federal aid do not apply for it, and many states also use the financial calculations made through FAFSA to award grants and scholarships at the state level.

Mr. Cardona has stressed that one of the goals of simplifying the form was to reduce the burden of navigating a lengthy, confusing application on families that may learn about the availability of federal aid late in the process.

“One of the things that we don’t really talk about a lot is that, across our country, we’ve normalized a 60 percent completion, 70 percent completion of FAFSA,” Mr. Cardona told lawmakers on Tuesday. “It is our expectation as we work together to get those numbers closer to 90, 95 percent of students filling it out.”

While Mr. Cardona acknowledged the department’s missteps and promised that the form would be easier to use and would unlock more aid for students than was available in the past, Republicans expressed dismay about the department’s budget request for next year given its handling of FAFSA.

“It seems like the only solution we ever hear is, ‘Well I need more money for staff,’” said Senator Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia. “Well this could have been done a lot better — what you said today, we should have been hearing that a year ago so we could be prepared for where we are.”

Last week, the head of the department’s federal student aid office, Richard Cordray, announced he would step down at the end of his term in June amid intense scrutiny into his handling of the FAFSA rollout.

Zach Montague is based in Washington. He covers breaking news and developments around the district. More about Zach Montague

2024 Texas election live updates: Get latest unofficial voting results for Austin area

Election day in Texas has arrived.

Voters will head to the polls on May 4 to weigh in on candidates and propositions across Central Texas, including the Travis Central Appraisal District board of directors and a $649.5 million bond proposal from the Georgetown school district.

Check back for updates throughout election day on Saturday:

Central Texas May 4 election results:

• Travis County election results:   See live results here .
• Bastrop County election results:   See live results here .
• Hays County election results:   See live results here .
• Williamson County election results:   See live results here .

11:25 p.m. update: Some neighborhoods in Austin choose to stay, leave city limits

There were six ballot propositions to disannex land from Austin's city limits on the May 4 ballot.

“Annexation is the process by which cities extend their municipal services, regulations, voting privileges & taxing authority to new territory,” according to the city of Austin’s website.

Residents in the Lost Creek neighborhood in Western Travis County — the largest portion of land up for disannexation on the ballot at 783 acres — voted overwhelming to leave the city limits. Of the total 1,585 ballots cast, 91.3% voted to leave the city.

Voters in around 40.5 acres of land known as "Lennar at Malone" in southwestern Travis County opted to stay within the city of Austin’s jurisdiction, with 98.21% of the 112 ballots cast voting against the disannexation.

The three voters who cast a ballot on Proposition C to dis-annex 28 acres of land in eastern Travis County known as "Blue Goose Road” all opted to leave the city. 

No one voted on Propositions B or E which would have disannexed four acres in southwestern Travis County known as the “Mooreland Addition” and 104 acres in eastern Travis County known as the "Wildhorse/ Webb Tract,” respectively, according to election results.

One person voted on proposition F. The single vote was in favor of disannexing 212 acres of land known as "River Place Outparcels” in northwestern Travis County from the city limits. 

11:25 p.m. update: Challenger ousts Bastrop school board incumbent

Carol A. Armstrong unseated Place 1 incumbent Rick Rivera with 61.4% of the vote, according to the complete but unofficial results. The Bastrop school board is expected to canvass its election results May 21.

Incumbent Kellye Seekatz, who ran uncontested, retained her seat. 

11:20 p.m. update: Elgin school board races settled

Elgin school board incumbent Beth Walterscheidt beat challenger Julissa Kyle in the District 3 race, according to the complete but unofficial results. Walterscheidt received almost 70% of the votes. 

Pete Bega won the District 6 seat with about 71.6% of the votes, defeating Tracy Norris-Samuels, results show. 

11:15 p.m. update: Georgetown ISD incumbent sails to reelection

Georgetown school board incumbent Jen Maudlin defeated challenger Aaron Smith with 70% of the vote for the Place 6 seat, according to the complete but unofficial results. The election results will become official after the school board canvasses the results later this month.

Stacey McLaughlin ran unopposed for the Place 7 seat. 

11:15 p.m. update: Hutto ISD incumbents win reelection

Hutto school district incumbents Amy English and James Matlock won reelection to the Hutto school board with 34.5% and 31.9% of the vote, respectively, according to the complete but unofficial results.

English and Matlock defeated challengers Zenaida Martinez, Ashley Rendon and Amanda Barron. The Hutto school district awards its board seats to the top vote-getters. Two seats were up for grabs this election. 

11:10 p.m. Dripping Springs ISD incumbents win reelection

In the race for three at-large Dripping Springs school district seats, incumbents Mary Jane Hetrick and Stefani Reinold won reelection with 22.5% and 20.9% of the votes respectively, according to the final but unofficial election results. Shandra DeLeon also won a seat with 20.6% of the votes.

Terri Purdy and John Adams also ran for school board positions but did not make the cut. Three seats were up for grabs and the top three vote-getters won election to those seats. 

11 p.m. update: Pflugerville school board races settled

In the Place 2 Pflugerville school district race, Charlie Torres defeated Melissa Lee with 56.5% of the votes, according to the complete but unofficial results.

Alex Okafor ran unopposed in the Place 1 seat. 

10:50 p.m. update: Elgin ISD voters approve $375 million bond package

Elgin school district voters approved a $375 million bond package, according to the complete but unofficial election results.

Proposition A, which will be used to construct new schools and for campus enhancements, was approved Saturday with about 68% of the vote, results show.

Proposition B, which will cover upgrades to its career and technology programs, passed with about 61% support. 

10:20 p.m update: Hays ISD incumbent Courtney Runkle wins reelection

In the Hays ISD school board races, incumbent Courtney Runkle defeated challenger Ray Chávez with 60.8% of the votes, according to the final but unofficial results. The election results will become official after the board canvasses them later this month.

In the race for the open at-large seat being vacated by board president Will McManus, Geoff Siebel defeated two opponents — Katy Armstrong and Jay Adcock — with 54.9% of the votes, results show.

10:15 p.m. update: Democrat-backed candidates win Travis Central Appraisal District board seats

In the three seats up for grabs on the Travis Central Appraisal District board of directors, the candidates endorsed by the Travis County Democratic Party won their respective seats Saturday, according to the Travis County clerk's unofficial vote totals. The election results will become official after they're canvassed.

In the Place 1 seat, Jett Hanna beat former Austin Council Member Don Zimmerman with 69.46% of the vote. Zimmerman was  endorsed  by the Travis County Republican Party for the seat.

In the Place 2 seat, Shenghao “Daniel” Wang defeated Matt Mackowiak and Jonathan Patschke with 67.37% of the vote. Mackowiak is the chairman of the Travis County Republican Party, and Patschke is the treasurer of the Travis County Libertarian Party.

In the Place 3 seat, Dick Lavine bested Bill May with 73.03% of the vote. Travis County Republicans endorsed May.

10:10 p.m. update: Lake Travis ISD incumbents win reelection

Two Lake Travis school board incumbents won reelection Saturday, according to the final but unofficial results. The election results will become official after the school board canvasses them later this month.

Place 1 incumbent Phillip Davis defeated his opponent Craig Cancienne after receiving 51.5% of the votes, according to the final tally. In the Place 2 race, Lauren White won reelection with 51.8% against challenger Christy Comfort. 

10:05 p.m. update: Eanes ISD incumbent James Spradley easily wins reelection

In the Place 4 Eanes school district race, incumbent James Spradley kept his seat with 86% support against challenger Robert Morrow, according to the final but unofficial election results. The vote will become official after the school board canvasses the election results later this month.

Kelly Marwill beat out two other candidates in the Place 5 race after garnering 35.5% of the votes, according to the election results. Marwill defeated Catherine Walker and Aaron Silva, who received 30.9% and 33.6% of the vote respectively. 

9:35 p.m. update: Georgetown ISD voters approve $649.5 million bond

Voters overwhelmingly approved the Georgetown school district's proposed $649.5 million bond package Saturday with strong support for all four propositions, according to the final but unofficial election results.

Proposition A — which will use $597.5 million to build new schools — received 70% support, with 30% of voters opposing the measure.

Proposition B — a $20.33 million proposal for districtwide school technology upgrades — got 67% approval, with 33% of voters opposing it.

Proposition C — a $27.85 million plan for a performing arts facility at East View High School, upgrades for facilities at Georgetown High School and equipment —  received 63% support from voters, with 37% coming out against it.

Prop D — which will invest $3.9 million in athletic upgrades — received 61% support, with 39% of voters opposing the measure.

The election counts will remain unofficial until the Georgetown school board canvasses the results later this month.

9:25 p.m. update: Democrat-backed candidates for Travis appraisal board keep lead

In the three seats up for grabs on the Travis Central Appraisal District board of directors, the candidates endorsed by the Travis County Democratic Party have kept their lead over their opponents after the early vote was tallied and nearly half of the county's vote centers reporting election day data.

Fifty of the county's 127 vote centers have reported their election day ballots, data shows.

In the Place 1 seat, Jett Hanna is leading former Austin Council Member Don Zimmerman with 69.77% of the vote. Zimmerman was  endorsed  by the Travis County Republican Party for the seat.

In the Place 2 seat, Shenghao “Daniel” Wang is leading Matt Mackowiak and Jonathan Patschke with 67.67% of the vote. Mackowiak is the chairman of the Travis County Republican Party, and Patschke is the treasurer of the Travis County Libertarian Party.

In the Place 3 seat, Dick Lavine is leading Bill May with 73.29% of the vote. Travis County Republicans endorsed May.

9:20 p.m. update: Eanes ISD incumbent takes commanding lead over challenger

In the Place 4 Eanes school district race, incumbent James Spradley has taken a commanding lead — having received 86.8% of the vote — against challenger Robert Morrow, according to the latest vote count, which remains incomplete and unofficial.

Kelly Marwill retains the lead over two opponents in the Place 5 race with 36.9%. Catherine Walker and Aaron Silva trail with 31% and 32% respectively. 

8:47 p.m. update: Georgetown ISD bond keeps support as election day vote is tallied

With election day votes in 10 out of 31 precincts added to the early vote tally, the Georgetown school district's $649.5 million bond proposal keeps its support.

Proposition A has 70% support. Proposition B has 68% support. Proposition C has 63% support. Proposition D has 61% support, according to the latest but incomplete election results. 

Democrat-backed candidates take early leads for Travis Central Appraisal District seats

In the three seats up for grabs on the Travis Central Appraisal District board of directors, the candidates endorsed by the Travis County Democratic Party are enjoying early leads over their opponents, according to the early vote results released just after the polls closed Saturday. Election day ballots are still being counted.

Though the board positions are nonpartisan, each candidate in the races has drawn endorsements from, or has ties to, a political party.

In the Place 1 seat, Jett Hanna is leading former Austin Council Member Don Zimmerman with 67.8% of the vote. Zimmerman was  endorsed  by the Travis County Republican Party for the seat.

In the Place 2 seat, Shenghao “Daniel” Wang is leading Matt Mackowiak and Jonathan Patschke with 65.49% of the vote. Mackowiak is the chairman of the Travis County Republican Party, and Patschke is the treasurer of the Travis County Libertarian Party.

In the Place 3 seat, Dick Lavine is leading Bill May with 71.76% of the vote. Travis County Republicans endorsed May.

More: Here's who's running for the Travis Central Appraisal District board of directors on May 4

Georgetown ISD bond package enjoys early support

Early voters in the Georgetown school district mostly came out in support of all four propositions on $649.5 million bond package.

Proposition A, a $597.5 million proposal, which would build new schools, received 71% support from voters who cast ballots during the early voting period, according to election results released shortly after the polls closed 7 p.m. Saturday. The election day vote is still being counted.

Proposition B, a $20.33 million proposal for districtwide school technology upgrades, received 68.6% support from early voters.

Proposition C, a $27.85 million plan for a performing arts facility at East View High School, upgrades for facilities at Georgetown High School and equipment, received 63.8% support from early voters.

Proposition D, which proposes to use $3.9 million for athletic upgrades, received 61.8% support from early voters. 

More: Georgetown ISD seeks $649.5M bond for new schools, facility upgrades, equipment

Incumbent takes early lead in Eanes ISD race

Place 4 school board incumbent James Spradley received nearly 87% support from early voters, trampling challenger Robert Morrow ahead of election day, according to the early but unofficial results.

In the Place 5 race, Kelly Marwill had a slight lead over opponents, having received 37.8% of the early vote, according to early results. Marwill's opponents, Catherine Walker and Aaron Silva, each carried about 31% of the early votes. 

Related: Home appraisal too high? Travis County voters will pick appraisal board members Saturday

Lake Travis school board races in dead heat after early tally

The two Lake Travis school board races up for grabs are close, according to the early vote results, which were released just after the polls closed Saturday.

In the Place 1 race, incumbent Phillip Davis was slightly ahead of opponent Craig Cancienne with 51.5% of the early vote. a In the Place 2 contest, incumbent Lauren White received 51.7% of the early votes against challenger Christy Comfort. 

Early voters friendly to Elgin ISD's $375 million bond plan

Elgin school district voters who cast a ballot during the early voting period came out in support of the district's $375 million proposal, according to the early but unofficial results. Election day ballots are still being counted.

Proposition A received close to 76% support from early voters, and Proposition B received 72.4% support.

Bastrop school board incumbent trails opponent after early vote

In the Bastrop school board Place 1 race, challenger Carol A. Armstrong is showing a strong lead with 58.9% of the early vote total against incumbent Rick Rivera, according to the early vote results released just after the polls closed Saturday. Election day ballots are still being tallied.

More: Fossler leading incumbent Crouch in Bastrop City Council race

Hays ISD incumbent takes early lead over challenger

In the District 3 Hays school board race, incumbent Courtney Runkle takes an early lead of about 59% over challenger Ray Chávez, according to the early but incomplete election results. The election day vote is still being counted.

In the race for the open at-large seat being vacated by board president Will McManus, Geoff Siebel leads two opponents with about 50% of the early votes. Katy Armstrong and Jay Adcock trail with about 47% and 3% of the early votes, respectively.

What time do polls open and close on May 4?

Polls will be open between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. May 4.

If you are still standing in line to vote at 7 p.m., stay in line. You will be allowed to vote even if you haven’t been admitted inside a polling place as long as you’re in line.

Polling locations near me

If you're a Travis County resident, you can  find a list of polling places here  or by using the map below.

Click on the links to find polling locations for  Bastrop ,  Williamson  and  Hays  counties as well.

Who's on the May 4 ballot?

Several Central Texas city and school district offices are up for grabs, and voters will also weigh in on a slew of propositions.

Texas local elections: A helpful guide for everything on the May 4 ballot, broken down by county.

What do I need to vote on May 4?

Voters must present one of seven acceptable forms of identification at the polls, according to Texas law. The seven acceptable forms include:

• Texas driver license
• Texas election ID certificate
• Texas personal ID card
• Texas handgun license
• U.S. citizenship certificate with photo
• U.S. military ID card
• U.S. passport

Those who are unable to present one of the forms of ID listed above may fill out a  Reasonable Impediment Declaration  at the polls and present an alternative form of ID. That could be a utility bill, bank statement, government check or voter registration certificate.