Latest news with #InternationalBaccalaureate
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
HMRC issues urgent letters to 1.5million parents to avoid having £1,354 payment stopped ahead of new school year
Read below to see the exact date you need to take action by TO YOUR BENEFIT HMRC issues urgent letters to 1.5million parents to avoid having £1,354 payment stopped ahead of new school year HMRC will issue urgent letters to 1.5 million parents to avoid having a £1,354 payment stopped ahead of the new school year. Parents of children aged 16 to 19 years old should expect a reminder from the taxman to extend their Child Benefit claim. 1 Parents should expect a letter from the taxman to remind them to extend their child benefit claim Credit: Alamy Child benefit is worth up to £1,354 a year for the first or only child, and up to £897 per a year for each additional child. However, payments automatically stop on August 31 or after the child has turned 16 unless parents renew their claim when their child is continuing in education. The parents of children who are furthering their education have until this date to tell HMRC or their payments will cease. Parents can continue to receive the cash boost up until their child is 19, and enrolled in an apprenticeship program or the following education schemes: A levels or similar, for example International Baccalaureate T levels Scottish Highers NVQs and most vocational qualifications up to level 3 home education - if it started either before your child turned 16 or after 16 if they have a statement of special educational needs study programmes in England a pre-apprenticeship Your child must be accepted onto the course before they turn 19. The payment works out at £26.05 per week for one child and £17.25 per week for each additional child, so it is important to respond to the HMRC if you want to receive the benefit in September. HMRC will be delivering letters up until July, so don't worry if you have not received yours yet. The letters will include a QR code which, when scanned, directs them straight to so parents can update online. Parents can also extend their child benefit claim via or the HMRC app. What Does My Tax Code Mean? A Simple Guide to Your HMRC Letter However, it is important to remember to do this before August 31 or you could risk losing out. Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's Director General for Customer Services, said the benefit is an "important boost" to families. She said: "As soon as you know what your teenager is planning to do, extend your claim in minutes to guarantee your payments continue in September. Simply go to or the HMRC app to confirm today." What is child benefit? You get child benefit if you're responsible for bringing up a child who is under 16 or under 20 if they are in approved education or training The payment is used to help parents cover the costs of childcare. It is paid at two weekly rates - £26.05 per week for your eldest or only child and £17.25 for any additional children. Payments are usually made every four weeks, on a Monday or Tuesday, but sometimes are made weekly. If you are claiming child benefit for a child under 12, you also receive National Insurance (NI) credits. NICs count towards your State Pension so claiming the benefit can be useful if you are missing any. The reason NICs are so important is because you need 35 NIC years to receive a full new State Pension. You are considered a parent, or responsible for a child if you live with them and are paying at least the same amount as the Child Benefit rates to look after them - for example for food, clothes or pocket money. It's important to note that eligibility changes if a child goes into hospital or care and if your child starts to live with someone else. If you're not sure about your eligibility, you can contact the child benefit office. You must contact the Child Benefit Office if you think you are paid too much or too little.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Opinion: What's the Best Way to Measure a School's Quality? 5 Factors to Consider
What's the best way to measure a school's quality? It depends on whom you ask. Parents, educators, employers and policymakers hold many different opinions about the goals of education and, therefore, about how to judge school performance. Yet virtually every educational aim rests on the same foundation: giving students a strong academic grounding and developing the knowledge and habits of mind that allow them to think critically, communicate effectively and acquire knowledge and skills over time. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter At this challenging moment in American education, with student achievement in decline, FutureEd and the Keystone Policy Center decided to approach the question of how best to measure schools from scratch. We combed the research about the features of schools that make the greatest contribution to academic achievement and identified five research-based characteristics that together provide a more complete and precise picture of school quality than is typically available. All the measures can support school improvement and provide parents and the public with a fuller understanding of school performance. But not all are suitable for high-stakes accountability decisions. Some metrics lack the reliability, validity and comparability necessary for ranking schools, replacing their staff or closing them. For decades, accountability systems judged schools based primarily on state test scores. But these correlate strongly with demographics and family income, making it difficult to gauge the real contributions of schools to improved student outcomes. A fairer, and increasingly popular, way to judge schools also considers how much they contribute to growth in students' test scores over the year. To achieve at high levels, students need access to challenging coursework. Policymakers can address this in accountability systems by measuring whether schools offer access to a broad range of course offerings, including the arts, sciences and technology, so schools don't narrow their focus to just reading and math. To help teachers deliver strong instruction, research increasingly points to the importance of using high-quality, standards-aligned instructional materials, which many states and districts are starting to emphasize. Research also has found that completion of one or more advanced math and science classes in high school predicts both college readiness and later health, job satisfaction and well-being. This can be measured by the availability of and enrollment in Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and dual-enrollment programs, for example, but only if they are made accessible to students who may have been shut out in the past. Related Student surveys also provide insight into whether schools provide a learning environment that promotes high achievement. But any use of surveys should include safeguards against adults influencing responses, and states must ensure they are valid and reliable. That's why many states and districts use surveys for school improvement rather than accountability. Accountability systems also could include reviews of student work, with a focus on instructional rigor, though doing so requires systematically collecting and evaluating work samples across schools. Research consistently shows that teacher and principal quality contribute more to student achievement than any other school-based factors. Traditionally, teacher quality has been measured by years of experience and subject-specific expertise, such as degrees earned or passing of teacher-licensure exams. But these measures often don't correlate with student achievement. A sounder strategy would be to identify the percentages of effective or highly effective teachers in a school through teacher evaluation systems that use multiple measures of quality and classroom observation, though few states have such systems at scale. States and districts can measure a principal's impact on student success using multiple measures and several years' worth of achievement data. Educator surveys of principal-teacher and teacher-to-teacher trust; principals' instructional leadership; and teachers' commitment to their school also provide an important window into a school's overall professional capacity. To prevent pressure from influencing survey results, states and districts should limit such measures to school improvement. Many states include chronic student absenteeism in their accountability systems as a proxy for student engagement and whether a school's climate is safe and conducive to learning. It is a reasonable strategy. But well-designed and well-implemented student, teacher and educator surveys — again, with sufficient validity and reliability safeguards — can provide more direct measures of school culture. Such surveys also can provide key insights into where improvement is needed. Related Test scores are proxies for long-term measures that parents value. But metrics such as whether students attend and graduate from college or career-training programs, enroll in the military, find gainful employment, and lead healthy and fulfilling lives are better gauges of readiness for adulthood. Though few states measure outcomes such as college enrollment when evaluating schools, better connecting pre-K-12 data systems to postsecondary and labor market data could help monitor a range of important post-high-school outcomes. Many high-performing countries use inspection systems that combine test scores and other quantitative measures with classroom observations and interviews conducted by teams of trained experts who visit schools to gather information on important features of success. These reviews typically include a school self-assessment followed by team site visits. They result in a comprehensive report describing a school's strengths and weaknesses and recommended steps for improvement. While such inspection systems have spread rapidly around the world, the cost and logistics of conducting valid and reliable school site reviews at scale has slowed their adoption in the U.S., particularly for high-stakes accountability decisions. Test scores matter. But by themselves, they provide an incomplete measure of school success. They also offer little guidance or support on how schools can improve. A more comprehensive set of research-based metrics would provide parents, educators and policymakers with a richer understanding of what makes schools successful and a clearer sense of how to strengthen them. Measurement systems that combine standardized test scores, access to rigorous and advanced coursework, prevalence of effective teachers and school leaders, evaluations of respectful and supportive school cultures and data on student success after high school are most likely to promote higher student achievement. Responsibility for weighting each strand and the specific metrics within them should rest with state and local education officials. But each component should play a role in evaluating school success.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Council likely to approve resolution calling for full funding of AP courses after punting in April
Jacksonville City Council is set to take a final vote Tuesday night in defense of full funding for advanced placement programs like AP (Advanced Placement), IB (International Baccalaureate), and AICE (Advanced International Certificate of Education). Students like Kaden Young came out in force back in April to signal their support for a local resolution that called on state lawmakers to fully fund AP classes and career and technical education courses. The proposed budgets put forth by the Florida House and Senate both reduce bonus funds offered to schools when students pass the courses by 50 percent. 'It really hit home for a lot of people and they didn't realize that these courses that they hold so dearly could be taken away,' Young said. Council initially shot down a motion to hear the bill on an emergency basis, which sent it to committees for a full six-week bill cycle. RELATED: Why Florida lawmakers want to slash AP funding and why education groups say the math doesn't add up At the time, it seemed the resolution wouldn't be heard before lawmakers wrapped up session. But since a state budget still has not been hammered out, there's still an opportunity to take a stand. 'It did wind up being a mixed blessing,' Councilmember Matt Carlucci (R-Group 4 At-Large) said. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Carlucci is the sponsor of the resolution, which now also calls on the school district to fully fund the courses in the event state lawmakers refuse to relent. 'They may ignore the resolution when it gets sent over there, but they won't ignore the voices of these young students. Because these young students represent voters, future voters and future leaders,' Carlucci said. And based on votes the resolution received as it went through committee, Young is optimistic council will vote to approve it and amplify the voices of students who fear losing opportunities to earn college credit while in high school. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] 'We all feel really good about the spot we're in right now. We feel as if, the Florida Legislature is extended by almost a month at this point, if we can use that month correctly, we can really get our message out very effectively and we're excited to see where that takes us,' Young said. State lawmakers have signaled they won't be back in the State Capitol before June 2. The House has even moved to extend session until June 30, which is just one day before the start of the next fiscal year. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
News18
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Yeh Hai Mohabbatein's Ruhaanika Dhawann Scores 91% In 12th: ‘Halted Acting Career…'
Last Updated: Ruhaanika Dhawann, known for playing young Ruhi Bhalla in Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, revealed that she has developed interest in business and economics. Congratulations are in order for actress Ruhaanika Dhawann, who scored an impressive 91 percent in her Class XII International Baccalaureate (IB) board exams, with the results announced on May 20! The actress, renowned for her role as young Ruhi Bhalla in the popular TV show Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, shared her joy in a recent conversation. She revealed that she paused her acting career for three years to concentrate on her studies, and now feels that the effort has paid off. While speaking with Hindustan Times, Ruhaanika said, 'I am very happy to have scored 91% in my boards. I have worked really hard. I halted my acting career for three years to focus on my studies, and now I feel it was all worth it." Her parents are thrilled with her performance, and the actress revealed that they had always believed in her. Ruhaanika shared how good it feels to have proven them right. 'While other actors my age were working and taking up projects, I chose to focus on my studies," she said. Having completed her A-levels under the Cambridge curriculum, Ruhaanika has developed an interest in business and economics. She revealed her plans to pursue a degree in economics and is considering a minor in international relations or entrepreneurship. She is preparing for entrance exams at prestigious colleges in Maharashtra and other parts of India. She revealed that the flexible schedule in college will allow her to return to acting. She hit the headlines in 2023 after she bought her first house at just 15 years old. Back then, she shared the news on Instagram, expressing her gratitude and excitement. About Ruhaanika Dhawann Ruhaanika played Ruhi, the daughter of Raman Bhalla (Karan Patel) and Ishita Iyer (Divyanka Tripathi) in Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, garnering accolades and winning audience hearts with her cute antics. She is also known for her performances in television shows like Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuein, and Mere Sai – Shraddha Aur Saburi. Besides her successful acting stints in TV shows like Yeh Hai Chahatein, the actress has also had a cameo in Salman Khan and Daisy Shah's film Jai Ho and Sunny Deol's ambitions sequel Ghayal 2.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Yeh Hai Mohabbatein actor Ruhaanika Dhawann scores 91 percent in 12th boards; says, 'I halted my acting career for three years'
Ruhaanika Dhawann, who is best known for her role in Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, is making headlines as she scored 91% in her 12th grade. The results were announced on 20th May, and she confirmed that she had scored 91% in her class XII International Baccalaureate (IB) board exams. Fans and close ones have congratulated her for the success. The actress has put her acting on hold to prepare for her exams and focus on her studies. She spoke to Hindustan Times, where she expressed her excitement for crossing this milestone and making her loved ones proud. Ruhaanika shared, 'I am very happy to have scored 91% in my boards. I have worked really hard. I halted my acting career for three years to focus on my studies, and now I feel it was all worth it. While other actors my age were working and taking up projects, I chose to focus on my studies.' After news of her scoring 91% in her 12th exams came out, fans on social media made it to her comment section and congratulated her for the same. A user wrote, 'At such a young age, she has achieved so much, my god… I'm super proud of her, she always wins our hearts by doing this.' Another user was like, 'Very happy for her. People should learn from her how to balance everything.' One more user was like, 'She did so good. Congratulations!!' On the professional front, Ruhaanika gained immense popularity for her role as Ruhi, the daughter of Raman Bhalla (played by Karan Patel) and Ishita Iyer (portrayed by Divyanka Tripathi), in the hit TV show Yeh Hai Mohabbatein. She has also appeared in other television shows such as Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuein and Mere Sai – Shraddha Aur Saburi.
