Kindergarten has changed. Not too long ago, kindergarten classes were half a day. Today, most children attend full-day kindergarten classes. For many of them, kindergarten is not their first school experience. They are already pros after attending pre-kindergarten classes or participating in kindergarten readiness programs. Thus, much of what students used to learn in 1st grade is now taught in kindergarten, in part because so many children already learned what used to be taught in kindergarten in preK.

Getting a new school year off to a good start can influence children’s attitude, confidence, and performance both socially and academically. The transition from August to September can be difficult for both children and parents. Even children who are eager to return to class must adjust to the greater levels of activity, structure, and, for some, pressures associated with school. Parents can help their children manage the increased pace of life by planning ahead, being realistic, and maintaining a positive attitude.

Without a doubt, some academic problems are easier to spot than others. Perhaps you’ve noticed a change in your child’s demeanor, but you’re unsure what exactly is going on. What are the red flags that may indicate that your child is having a problem in school?

The day after 26 people were murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut Frank Storch, an expert in security, decided he had to take action.

Storch began drafting a booklet aimed at keeping schools safe. He estimates that it took hundreds of hours to write the 44 page “Keep Your School Safe,” which includes checklists and security protocols that ask school officials to score their facilities on a wide variety of security concerns. For example, the guide asks if lockdown procedures are in place in every classroom, whether all interior and exterior doors are designed to close automatically and securely and if teachers are required to carry two-way radios when they’ve taken children outdoors.