The number of enrollees in private schools across the US has been declining for many years now. Several reasons are cited for this trend.

According to data recently released by the US Department of Education, the number of students enrolled in private schools has been declining in the past years. It is estimated that only one in every 10 students in pre-K-12 grades is enrolled in a private institution. This is taken by surprise because there were measures previously implemented that should have increased private school enrollments significantly.

In the last 15 years, the number of private school enrollments has decreased to 10% from 12%. The trend is not expected to be reversed soon. Moreover, the Education Department expects that by 2021, enrollment in pre-K-12 private schools will further drop to 9%, while the number of students in public schools would jump to 91%.

Measures to increase private school enrollment

In the last several decades, many states have implemented programs that include providing tax credits and publicly funded tuition fee vouchers to parents who enlist their children in private institutions. To date, many states are also planning to expand their voucher schemes. In 2011, the broadest voucher programs in the country were enacted in Indiana.

The highly publicized policies are aimed at backing private schools. Those are aimed at helping increase enrollments in those institutions. However, it is noted that the measures did not lead to major increases in the proportions of enrollments in private schools, as intended.

Possible causes

Several reasons are cited for this trend. Since 1995, enrollments in Catholic private schools have declined. Such schools comprise more than 50% of private elementary schools in the US and about 75% of private secondary schools. Interestingly, the decline was not unique to Catholic schools as most educational institutions affiliated with particular religions are also suffering from dropping volume of enrollments.

The popularity of charter schools is also contributory to the trend. Public charter schools exhibit greater independence from the basic rules that are implemented in other public schools. Despite the fact that only 5% of public schools across the country are chartered, the number of enrollees has been growing aggressively. Those schools are usually located in cities where there are more low-income households.

Lastly, the recent economic recession could also take the blame. Stagnant wages and high unemployment rates have logically made it harder for many parents to shoulder private school tuition fees. Thus, many households in the last few years have enrolled their children in public schools, where education costs are much lower in comparison.

The US News & World Report has recently released a list of its most recommended graduate schools for the next school year. Here are four of the best institutions it has identified so far.

College students and graduates who are considering taking post-graduate degrees should check out recommendations from the experts. In reality, there are too many universities and colleges that currently offer such programs. But which of those are the best? What can be expected not just from the post-graduate programs but also from the schools?

The US News & World Report conducts and releases an annual survey of what answers the question, ‘Which are the best graduate schools in the US?’ The study covers more than 1,200 universities and schools across the country that offers post-graduate programs.

The poll not just determines the best postgraduate institutions. It also provides realistic rankings based on the responses of actual students, graduates, educators, and other experts. Here is a sneak peek of the top and best graduate schools that are recommended in 2014.

Vanderbilt University

The Nashville, Tennessee-based university is a private research institution. It presently has up to six professional and graduate schools across the US. It has affiliations with several other research institutes and centers. This university has been recognized as among the best schools for specific postgraduate and masteral programs.

Johns Hopkins University

The Maryland-based private research university is actually not-for-profit. It has organized itself into five graduate divisions that are offered on its two major campuses: the Medical Institutions campus and the Homewood campus, both situated in Baltimore. This university is best known for pioneering the concept of a modern research university in the US. For many years now, it has always been among the top universities in the world.

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts is the home for this research university, which is a part of the private Ivy League. It is among the oldest educational institutions in the history of the US. Thus, it is proud about its long history, wealth, and influence. Aside from its popularity, the university can also boast about its own university library, which is currently the largest not just in the US academic history but also in the world.

University of Texas at Austin

The flagship institution of the prestigious University of Texas is also among the best graduate schools in the country. It is currently a major center as far as academic research is concerned. Of all the four best postgraduate universities, this one is the most outstanding in terms of its involvement and support for sports. Thus, it is logical that balance is utmost offered to its students and other clients.

Virginia-based Tidewater Community College will start offering a textbook-free degree program this coming academic year. It will be the first accredited college in the US to offer a degree that does not use traditional and commercial reference materials.

A community college is set to offer a degree program that could set as a model for other colleges and universities that plan to facilitate textbook-free degrees in the future. Tidewater Community College (TCC) will begin a pilot textbook-free education project this coming academic year (2013–2014). The goal is clear: to help lower students’ expenses amid increasing costs of modern textbooks.

The Norfolk, Virginia-based community college is collaborating with Portland, Oregon-based Lumen Learning for this initiative. The initial goal is to offer and facilitate an associate of science degree program in business administration without the need to use the usually expensive traditional textbooks.

Open educational resources

The program will require the use of open educational resources (OER) or ‘open textbooks.’ These materials are openly licensed and freely accessible. The references can be found in public domain. Those can even be released and accessed under intellectual property licenses, which allow free access and repurposing by just about anyone.

Ideally, OER can assume several forms—it can be in text format that include different types of presentations, graphics, and videos. Logically, the information can be in a format that is not only highly useful and accessible but also very interesting and even interactive.

However, students will be required to use a PC to access education materials. Their devices should also be online so they could use browsers to access and utilize the learning materials. The courses will be built in the popular Blackboard, which can be accessible even via a tablet or a smartphone.

Cost savings

TCC is confident that the program will significantly minimize, if not totally eliminate students’ expenses on textbooks. The community college is confident that the project could spare up to a third of students’ total college costs. If proven successful, the initiative can serve as a prototype to combat the inevitably rising textbook prices, which have jumped by up to 812% since 1978.

To make the initiative work, TCC would offer a section at a time of each of the 21 courses in the curriculum. Traditional textbooks will not be required. About 13 faculty members will serve as instructors for every section. Courses will be delivered online and on campus. This way, every student can save up to $2,000 after completing the entire program.

TCC is an accredited US college. Currently, it offers a number of programs in different types of degrees. More than 30,000 students are presently enrolled in the community college. It is still not clear, though, how many college students will enroll in this pilot program.

Students can possibly convert their old books into cash. Here are simple procedures on how to sell old textbooks online.

Students who want to generate extra money can opt to sell their old textbooks online. Selling through the Internet is more advisable because most college bookstores and traditional second-hand stores offer cheaper buying prices for used books. In many cases, those businesses also refuse or reject specific copies after meticulous inspection.

The procedure for selling used textbooks online may not be tedious. A student who intends to do so may begin by finding reputable buyback firms that buy old books across the Internet. Popular search engines can be used to look for those businesses. Here are the succeeding steps to successfully sell those items online.

Finding good prices

After finding buyback businesses, students should compare price quotes that are offered by those companies. To do so, they should go to those firms’ Websites, where they will be asked to enter their textbooks’ International Standard Book Number or ISBN (numbers coming with barcodes on the back covers) into designated blank fields for ISBN search bar. In several seconds, price quotes on books will be revealed.

To find the best prices offered, students should check out several buyback firms at a time. It will be easier to compare price quotes. The business with the highest offer prices to buyback old textbooks online should be chosen. There will also be a need to create an account on each of the Websites.

Deciding on the payment method

After initiating and confirming sale of textbooks, students should declare how they prefer to be paid. Common choices include being paid through PayPal or through checks sent to their mailing addresses. Some buyback companies only pay through handing checks. There is a need to further communicate with the business for more important details.

After that, the used books should be prepared and packed. It is ideal to use corrugated cardboards or designated shipping boxes to make sure the books will not be damaged while in transit. The box should be securely taped and labeled.

Payment for sold used textbooks online can be expected in about one day to three days. The buyback forms must first inspect the books after receipt. The agreed amount should be immediately deposited or the check should be sent to sellers’ addresses immediately. Checks can be encashed on the same day or within a few more days, depending on the bank. Proceeds from the sale of used books can now be used by students for any important purpose.